Using YouTube to promote your business or website

Youtube is a great media for promoting any topic or business, however it is often mis-understood by business people including those in the recruitment sector who seem to believe in the principle of “build it and they will come”, it would be great of course if that was the case and you only needed to record a short video to ensure instant viral success on the web.

Using YouTube to promote your business or website April 2, 2019

Using YouTube to promote your business or website

Using YouTube to promote your business or website

Youtube is a great media for promoting any topic or business, however it is often mis-understood by business people including those in the recruitment sector who seem to believe in the principle of “build it and they will come”, it would be great of course if that was the case and you only needed to record a short video to ensure instant viral success on the web.

Lets dive right in an take a look at a real example

What makes a great FD?Here is a typical example A video about “what makes a great FD?”

Note how the page views are only a tiny 84 after 9 months, and that includes the views of the video by the presenter himself and his colleagues!

So what does that tell us?

It says not everything works on youtube!

Now lets look at a different example

Lucy Earl

Do you notice an increbible difference? 1.1million views in 3 months?

Why such a difference? Of course the topics themselves are very different learning english for free is always going to get more traction that what makes a great FD? But it is not just that. Lucy Earl the lady behind English with lucy has built herself a very active Youtube channel with a huge subscriber list, an amazing 1million + , so every new video she uploads now triggers a notification to her followers who then visit to view her latest videos. The views are driven from her subcribers list not via searches.

The difference is she has built a list of subscribers interested and focussed to her topic, and so many other youtube success stories are likewise built around followers, unless of course you are a celebrity or artist, in which case users are searching for free ways to listen rather than stumbling upon content. The principle is much the same, success stories are based around fans either actual subcribers or phyical fans / listeners around the world, and not as many think simply as a result of the existance of Youtube.

Of course Lucy is more engaging as a presenter and the audience for learning English is a global one, so the potential target audience is very large, but the points are still valid.

Using YouTube

Also content performs on sites like youtube because it is linked to from external sites, much in the same way as a page on a website will perform better and higher in Search Engine Results Placement (SERPs) the more quality sites link to it. You can learn about the importance of link building to websites and how they rank on Google by reading the following blog post. We have also posted recently about how to get traction online.

It is much the same as any internet based marketing effort, you need to put in a large effort to build up your followers, then put out content that engages with them in interesting ways. Creating a video is just the start of the process the big task and to what the majority of your time should be invested into is marketing that video to help it reach its full potential.

Additionally the length of a youtube video is a factor because Google rewards pages that have good user metrics, being high time on page, good click through rates and low bounce rates.

So the lesson to learn from Lucy and other success stories on youtube is as follows:-

Videos need to be interesting, compelling and reasonably long to give good user metric scores
Posting a video is just the beginning you need to promote it in the same way as a webpage needs to be via social media, link building and marketing of all kinds
Build a channel and build your subscriber base if you want to drive traffic this way

Hopefully this article gives you an insight into the hard work that is required to make a success out of youtube.

If you are an E-Commerce business then why not talk with us about hiring a specialist E-Commerce FD? Here at FD Capital we have a wide range of Finance Directors each with their own specialism, to get an understanding of the areas FD Capital covers please review the following pages to see the disciplines currently on offer:-

Part Time FD’s – This is our main focus covering the London and West Midlands areas.
Portfolio FD’s – Part Time FD’s who work for multiple businesses.
Private Equity FD’s – Finance Directors with experience of working with Private Equity Houses and Venture Capitalists.
Interim FD’s – Finance Directors needed for short periods.
Turnaround FD’s – Finance Directors with particular experience of distressed situations and turnarounds.
E-Commerce FD – Finance Directors with expertise with E-Commerce website and Search marketing.
Non-Executive FD – Non Executives or NED’s with finance expertise for boards.

Using YouTube

Youtube

Hopefully you can see that we are a niche agency and specialist / boutique finance house offering recruitment but also professional solutions through executive recruitment.

If you are a candidate with expertise in any of the above disciplines or an active interest in breaking into them, please reach out for a chat with us today, we are always looking for additional skills to add to our database. There are a growing number of financial professionals with knowledge and expertise in online-marketing if you need that skill set reach out to FD Capital today.

We are always interested to hear from new businesses, if you are an SME based in London or the West Midlands then we are keen to speak with you, we have a lot of experience with PE Houses. We specialise in Finance Director and CFO Recruitment.

Our main locations at present are

Part-Time London FD’s We cover all of the areas within the M25 and the Home Counties.

Part-Time Birmingham FD’s We cover Birmingham and the West Midlands, Shropshire and Cheshire.

It is always worth talking with us if you have a need for a role outside of those areas or you are candidate that doesn’t mind commuting or staying away some nights per week.

From time to time we have roles for FD’s that we can’t handle within our network, keep an eye on our Jobs page as we advertise roles there regularly.

Our YouTube Channel

We now have our own FD Capital Youtube Channel, here is one of our videos

Whether you are looking to recruit a CFO or you want to apply for a position as one, then FD Capital Recruitment is the prefect choice for you. Finance Director and Chief Financial Officer Recruitment is all we do; our specialist team have many years of experience working with businesses and their owners to find the right CFO for them. We offer a bespoke service, so whatever your sector or your location we have the network and expertise to find the right candidate that fits your needs.

This can be found syndicate as follows:-

Rumble – A popular video sharing service
Bitchute – Another great site.
Vimeo – The second player in the market after Youtube.

Linkedin and your new FD Role

I am sure you have noticed but linkedin is becoming more and more important as part of any serious search for a new finance role, at Senior level it certainly is a must.

Everyone is on linkedin or needs to be if they are not already, and you need to carefully read the profiles of your rivals and refine your own to match or surpass them. I lost out on a few roles in 2018 only to find that my work experience was far stronger than the candidates who got the role, however their Virtual CV’s and probably their hard copy CV’s were better than mine at the time at least. So you gradually need to refine and improve your Linkedin profile to best reflect your experience, and as you build your experience make sure to regularly update Linkedin to reflect it.

I’ve now spent time learning from competitors and refining my profile and CV so it now represents me in a better more positive and more reflective light. Believe me you get a lot more approaches from Agencies and PE houses if your Linkedin profile looks the part.

Time invested in Linkedin is a long term investment, you can network with some really useful contacts, which when you need a service or for example to raise commercial debt can be invaluable.

LinkedinA great tip I can share is as soon as you apply for a role via an agency, find the contact that the application is going to, then invite them to link with you via linkedin, then make a focussed pitch on how you are better than anyone else for the role you are applying for, a couple of interviews and one role I’ve landed were just due to that, agencies and recruiters get huge numbers of applications, so small differences in your approach like that start to seperate you in the recruiters minds.

More and more roles are being advertised directly on Linkedin, and whilst 3 years ago I don’t remember seeing or applying for an FD or Portfolio FD role, I now find each week there is usually something interesting to either apply for, or reach out to the recruiter or agency concerned to build a contact with. You might be interested in FD Headhunters.

You need to make a good impression in today’s competitive jobs market so sprucing up your Linkedin is a great place and way to start.

Once you have your profile looking the part then next phase is to market yourself, if your are looking for Portfolio roles, then a great place to start are the Private equity houses, over the last few years I’ve built up more than 1,000 contacts within this niche, I reach out and if there is interest I arrange a call and speak to them explaining how my experience matches what they are looking for. It is a bit tough going at first, as with all sales activity only a % of your pitches land with the right people, and not everyone has a role available at any one time. But as you grow you database of contact its more and more likely that something will drop.

I’ve been successful with this approach and now I get regular work from PE houses or the distressed business teams of the main banks. Most of my works comes through FD Capital, we are a network of Finance Directors and CFO’s and we find work for each other, if we can’t fulfil it within the team we have FD’s on the payroll who can. Depending on the role and the size of the employer this can be inside or outside of IR35. We work with an umbrella payroll service which we use if the work is inside IR35.

Our Team on Linkedin

Tayisiya Lawrence – Talent Manager Specialists
Jessica Edwards – Recruitment Consultant
Amanada Ryan – Executive Headhunter

Please reach out to them for all of your recruitment needs.

Linkedin and your new FD Role

Office Network

I recommend building your own weekly routine, I wake up early on a Saturday as my kids usually sleep in, and my routine is to wake early ready for work, that gives me a few hours of spare time when the rest of the family is still resting. I spend about 30 minutes prospecting, looking for PE house contacts or using the “People you may know” feature. It’s great as it analyses your profile and attempts to match you to interesting people. Any worthwhile approach is to find select someone you have met and explore their contacts, which is possible if you have the paid premium version, its a great way to built out a professional network by piggy backing onto anothers network.

I work through the suggestion list each Saturday and normally by the following week, 5 or 10 new contacts have appeared, during the week before I leave for work, I check my bank and emails and message anyone who appears worthwhile to meet. Then when I have a free day I setup up a diary meeting and go along and have a chat. I find it interesting meeting people in this way, and slowly your network grows, its surprising but even a year or more later something can then come along where you can make use of contacts found in this way, either for help with fund raising, insurance or whatever for your clients, or by introductions to work and opportunities which then arise from them.

You might find our Linkedin Pulse Articles of interest, contributing content to Linkedin is a great way to showcase you skills and knowledge.

How To Spend Your First 101 Days as a Successful CFO
How to Achieve Better Board Reporting

Linkedin and your new FD Role

Like all sales and marketing activity you only get out what you put into it, so I find you need to dedicate a few hours per week to Linkedin to develop your network, then to keep in touch with everyone and make sure they remember you and keep you in mind for roles as they come along. If you want to be serious about marketing yourself, then I recommend, putting aside two or more hours each week for prospecting and applications. These days I work on finding 3 new good contacts each week, and increasingly these are contract that approach me, rather than the other way around.

FD Capital Launches Non-Executive Recruitment Service

FD Capital Launches Non-Executive Recruitment

London, May 2022 – FD Capital, the leading boutique financial recruitment agency, has announced the launch of its non-executive recruitment service. The recruitment agency is expanding to offer recruitment for the positions of Non-Executive Director and Board Chair.

FD Capital began as a specialist agency, connecting start-ups and SMEs with CFOs on a part-time, full-time, and interim basis. This new service is the latest in a range of expansion plans that will see FD Capital build its recruitment to a full portfolio of non-executive senior management roles.

As the leading recruitment agency for financial professionals, FD Capital has developed a proven track record of connecting businesses with the employees they need to realise their potential. FD Capital recruits on an in-house and remote basis, working with companies across the UK and beyond.

The company is based in London with a senior leadership team that has a shared entrepreneurial background. They have extensive experience in helping businesses scale to the next level while understanding the trials and tribulations of expanding.

FD Capital is quickly building its reputation both domestically and internationally through recruitment for remote working opportunities. It comes on the heels of ‘the great resignation’, when start-ups, SMEs, and scaling businesses are taking a more flexible approach to work to attract talent.

The agency’s portfolio of talent includes qualified accountants with experience working as non-executive directors and in chairmen roles. This extensive talent pool offers businesses the opportunity to hire on a part-time, full-time, and interim basis.

Other positions within the non-executive recruitment service include business recovery specialists, HR professionals, and auditors. FD Capital has a particular focus on e-commerce and start-up companies in London and the South East.

As a boutique recruitment agency, FD Capital takes a curated approach to recruiting, identifying the needs of each business before starting the recruitment process. The latest expansion will see FD Capital offer recruitment for a full range of leadership and senior management positions.

Adrian Lawrence, Director of FD Capital, said “we are delighted to be once again expanding FD Capital, taking our curated approach to recruitment to non-executive positions, connecting businesses with the talented professionals they need to excel”.

About FD Capital: FD Capital is a boutique recruitment agency based in London. It connects start-ups and businesses with senior financial professionals with experience working with PLCs, venture capitalists, and fundraising.

FD Capital recruits financial professionals at all levels with a tailored approach for each client, including for CFOs and Financial Directors. Its recent expansions have seen the agency grow to offer executive and non-executive recruitment services.

Top Recruitment Agencies for UK Finance Directors

How to Tell If Your Ex Still Likes You 7 signs your ex still likes you

After a break up, you still couldnt forget your ex right? Yeah it happens to many people and a lot of couples are joining back every minute. Do you like to know whether your ex still likes you, just check out these 7 signs from your ex.

Sign #1: Your ex tries to say a “hi” to you often:
If your ex broke up and doesnt like you, he/she will try to contact you and keep in touch with you often. They will try to be as far as possible with you.

Sign #2: Accidental Meetings:
Your ex would still be hanging around at the same favorite spot you 2 have been hanging around when you were together, or your favorite spot, and would pretend that it was a accidental meeting.

Sign #3: Trying to make you Jealous:
If your ex has immediately started dating some other guy/girl, and makes a point that you know about it, then you can assure yourself that he/she is trying to make you jealous. Nobody can date some other person when they are freshly broken up unless they have a purpose for it.

Sign #4: Getting too emotional when talking with you:
If your ex still gets any kind of emotions over a normal range, it may be laughing or crying but when the emotions are abnormal, he/she is still interested in you.

Sign #5: Have you heard about he/she missing you?
If your ex still likes you, they would not be able to forget about you. Thus they will start missing you which will eventually be leaked by themselves to any of your exs friend. If that friend is also your friend, you will come to know about it. If anything like that happened, you can be confident that your ex is missing you. But make sure the info is right.

Sign #6: What does your ex talk about?
If your ex still talks about you or the things you would be doing when you were together, then in his/her subconscious mind, you are still seated firmly.

Sign #7: Are you still getting Text messages, emails and IMs from your ex?
If they are so fed up with you, your ex would have deleted the all possible contacts with you. If you are frequently getting these messages, then it means that they have not removed you from their list. If its personal message to you only, I bet your ex is still interested.

But, remember everybody does not show all of these signs. Even if your ex does not like you much now, there is a complete psychological strategy which you can follow to get your ex back.

Want a plan and strategy to get your ex back which reveals psychological tips that work?
90% of the lovers trying to get ex back are completly wrong. Heck, they are doing the right opposite. Get the right strategy to get your ex back here.

Credit card – Advantages and disadvantages

Credit card – Advantages and disadvantages

A credit card can be an asset to your lifestyle, but if not handled carefully it can become a liability, especially if you find it so convenient and easy to use that you lose control of your spending.

This short guide will help you understand how you can use your credit card so it works to your advantage, not against you.

Advantages
A credit card can:

1. Offer free use of funds, provided you always pay your balance in full, on time.
2. Be more convenient to carry than cash.
3. Help you establish a good credit history.
4. Provide a convenient payment method for purchases made on the Internet and over the telephone.
5. Give you incentives, such as reward points, that you can redeem.

Disadvantages
On the other hand, credit cards can:

1. Cost much more than other forms of credit, such as a line of credit or a personal loan, if you dont pay on time.
2. Damage your credit rating if your payments are late;
3. Allow you to build up more debt than you can handle;
4. Have complicated terms and conditions;

What is a credit card?
A credit card is more then a simple piece of plastic, it is first and foremost a flexible payment tool accepted at 30 million locations worldwide, and if the card balance is paid off every month, then no interest is charged on purchases made so, essentially, short-term credit is granted without the consumer paying any interest.

Among its many features it provides:
1. Access to unsecured credit (no collateral required against amounts charged)
2. Interest-free payment from time of purchase to the end of the billing period
3. Instant payment of purchases, allowing for instant receipt of goods and services
4. 24/7 access
5. Fraud protection

However before you decide to use your credit card, carefully consider all of the factors and weigh them against your personal needs and values.

What about credit card control?
Handling money and credit cards wisely is a talent few of us are born with. But it is a skill that can easily be learned. The place to start is with budgeting.

What is a Budget?
Its simply an organized way of managing your finances, basically, it gives you an overall picture of where your money is coming from, when its coming in and how its being spent. A budget should be flexible, changing according to your circumstances.

Why Budget?
Budgeting helps us achieve short-term goals like paying the monthly bills on time; its also for longer-term financial goals like buying a home, a car, paying for an education,
a wedding or a holiday. When you take control of your financial affairs, youre more confident about the future.

A budget is key to financial control. It gives you a “Polaroid picture” of where you stand financially and where youre heading.

Credit card control tips
Use a low or no-fee credit card and save on the annual fee that some companies charge.

Only charge to your credit cards what you can pay off in full when the bill comes.

You might not use your credit card as much if you start believing that you have to pay off your entire balance at the end of each month.

A good way to help to reduce what you pay on your credit card is to search for a card with a lower interest rate. Many financial institutions now offer at least one of these types of cards.

Remember that when you take a cash advance on your credit card, the interest starts accumulating immediately and not on the due date of your credit card bill.

Also keep in mind that if you make only the minimum monthly repayment you may never get out of debt.

Conclusion
The main advantage of having a credit card is convenience but if youre not good at budgeting and managing your finances, the over-use of credit cards can leave you with a debt thats very difficult to pay back.

Tips on how to grow long, healthy nails

Tips on how to grow long, healthy nails

Lets be honest, a beautiful set of, long, natural healthy nails looks classy and sexy. Immaculately manicured long nails say a lot about your personal style and confidence. We know growing long, healthy nails can be a challenge. Our simple tips show how you too can have a beautiful set of long natural nails.

First a quick biology lesson:
Your nails grow from the area under your cuticle called the matrix. The matrix is the living part of the nail. Your cuticle is the layer of skin that protects the matrix so the cuticle is very important for nail health and growth. As new nail cells grow in the matrix, older nail cells are pushed out toward your fingertips and become hard and compacted. Heredity and health determine how fast nails grow but nails typically grow about 0.1 millimeter a day, which means that it takes a fingernail about four to six months to fully regenerate. Healthy nails are smooth, without ridges or grooves. Theyre uniform in colour and consistency and free of spots or discoloration.

Did you know: Nails grow faster in the summer than in the winter, nails on your dominant hand grow faster, and mens nails grow more quickly than womens, except when a woman is pregnant when nail growth speeds up.

How long should my nails be ?
This is obviously very much a matter of personal choice but a couple of things to bear in mind:

The optimum practical length for your nails depends on your activities and your lifestyle. In general the nail tip should extend no further than one third of the body of the nail.

Nails break less often when they are all of equal length and shaped square, oval, or round.

Tips on growing, long and healthy natural nails:

Long nails tip 1: Dont use your nails as tools.
Rather than using your nails use other parts of your hand, or a pen, to perform tasks like dialing the phone. Dont pick, poke or scrape with your nails and especially avoid opening soft drink cans with your nails.

Long nails tip 2: Wear gloves.
Detergents are particularly harsh on your nails and can cause splitting and peeling. Wear gloves when washing dishes or cleaning. You should also wear gloves when gardening to protect your nails from infection and prevent dryness, damage, and loss of natural oils.

Long nails tip 3: Dont bit your nails or pick at your cuticles.
Aside from the obvious reason of biting shortening your nails these habits can damage the nail bed. Even a minor cut alongside your nail can allow bacteria or fungi to enter the nail bed and cause an infection. Remember your nails grow slowly so an injured nail retains signs of damage for several months.

Long nails tip 4: Look after your cuticles.
The cuticle is a barrier that keeps bacteria from the nail matrix, where new cells are generated, so it should not be cut or trimmed. On the other hand you do want to keep cuticles from becoming overgrown, which suffocates nail growth. If your cuticle has grown out on to the nail plate, after sufficiently softening your cuticles in warm water, very gently use a cuticle pusher to push your cuticles back. As well as pushing your cuticles back this will help to remove dead skin and debris that may have accumulated. Hold the cuticle pusher at an angle, and use tiny circular movements, so that you are as gentle and careful as possible and do not damage the cuticle. When you have finished doesnt forget to moisturize your hands.

Long nails tip 5: Look after your nails.
Trim fingernails and clean under the nails regularly. Use manicure scissors or clippers and a nail file to smooth nail edges. Never pull off hangnails – doing so almost always results in ripping living tissue. Clip hangnails off, leaving a slight angle outward.

Long nails tip 6: Caring for brittle nails.
Trim brittle nails after a bath, or a 15 minute hand soak in bath oil, and then apply a moisturiser. Dont use nail polish remover more than twice a month. Instead, touch up the nail polish. When you do need to use a nail polish remover avoid those that use acetone, which dries out nails. Also consider using a nail strengthener and growth formula.

Long nails tip 7: The role of diet.
Unless your diet is deficient in protein and vitamins dietary changes that supposedly strengthen nails wont work. Your nails can however offer telltale signs of dietary problems such as:
Lack of vitamin A and calcium causing dryness and brittleness.
Lack of protein, folic acid and vitamin C causing hang nails
White bands across the nails caused by protein deficiency.
A lack of sufficient hydrochloric acid causing splitting nails.
Insufficient intake of vitamin B12 leading to excessive dryness, very rounded and curved ends and darkening of nails.
Insufficient zinc causing development of white spots on the nails.
Red skin around your cuticles can be caused by poor metabolism of essential fatty acids.

If you are concerned that your diet may not be balanced and healthy you should consult a medical or nutritional professional.

Long nails tip 8: Moisturise your nails.
Nails need moisture just like your hands do. Rub lotion into your nails when moisturising your hands. Be sure to apply moisturiser each time you wash your hands

Long nails tip 9: Use coloured nail polish.
Use coloured nail polish while you are growing your nails. If you prefer a softer look, try a sheer shade. Coloured nail polish helps you become more aware of your hands and how to use them in a way that keeps your nail polish undamaged and hence your nails protected. It also makes chips easier to spot so that you can make immediate repairs.

Long, beautiful natural nails take commitment and special care to grow and maintain. Be patient, the average nail takes 3 to 6 months to grow.

Frequently asked questions:
My nails are weak. What can I do to strengthen them?
Unfortunately, if you have naturally weak nails then its probably hereditary and you cant permanently change them. You can, however, do things to make them stronger. Try a nail strengthener and growth formula. Many women are confused about how to use these products, so here are a few tips:
Make sure you apply a thin coat. Because youll be applying it daily you dont want it to build up too much. If youre at the very beginning stages of growing out your nails only use a strengthener and growth formula on your nail plate and apply it every day. Once your nails start to protrude, and you want to apply nail polish, use the strengthener and growth formula as a base coat and as a top coat.

Why do I have ridges in my nails?
Ridges or corrugations (referred to as beaus lines) in nails occur when nail growth is uneven, usually because of illness or injury. Gentle buffing can minimize ridges. A Ridge Filler will also help to level the nail surface, smoothing out shallow ridges and other imperfections.

What causes my nails to turn yellow and how can I get rid of the yellow stains?
Darker coloured nail polish can cause a chemical reaction between the nail polishs coloring agent and the nail plate. This can cause nails to develop a yellowish color. While it is different for every person this reaction can occur in a matter of days or within weeks of wearing the nail colour. To prevent nails from yellowing always use a base coat before applying nail polish. Not only will this prevent staining but it can also extend the life of the nail polish. For already yellow nails soak nails in a solution of 1/2 cup of water and the juice of one lemon for up to 15 minutes, once a week

Why are my nails so flaky around the cuticle beds? What causes this?
Unless you have an allergy to something you are handling it is likely to be dryness which is the cause. It is important to correct this since, as mentioned, cuticles are very important for nail health. You should regularly moisturize your cuticles, and hands.

My nails can grow, but after a while they begin to peel and stop growing. What can I do to stop this?
Many women want long, well-shaped nails, but the stresses of daily life and work may make them a challenge to grow. Your nails could potentially benefit from additional protection when they reach more vulnerable lengths. A nail strengthener and growth formula could assist.

What causes thin nails and what can make them stronger?
When your general health is good and you are not handling strong chemicals that might affect the nails, it is likely to be heredity that produces thin nails. Your nails could also potentially benefit from a nail strengthener and growth formula.

Symptoms of early ivf pregnancy: Check for Usual Pregnancy Symptoms

In vitro fertilization is one method of reproduction that couples who have had difficulty conceiving a child on their own might consider. In vitro fertilization is commonly known as IVF. Couples who choose this method of conception might wonder what signs of potential pregnancy they need to be looking for if the procedure was a success.

In vitro fertilization is a process by which a woman’s eggs and a man’s sperm are combined outside of a woman’s body. The eggs are allowed to fertilize in liquid and if successfully fertilized the eggs will then be implanted in the woman’s uterus. The term in vitro is Latin for “in glass”. After the fertilized eggs are implanted couples must endure what is known as the two week wait. The fertilized eggs are implanted at the ovulation point of a woman’s menstrual cycle, and this occurs approximately two weeks before a woman’s next menstrual cycle will start if she is not pregnant. The implantation process is done in your doctor’s office, and a pre-determined number of fertilized eggs are implanted in your uterus. Your doctor will use an ultrasound so that they can see the placement of the eggs, and a catheter to deposit the fertilized eggs into your uterus. In vitro fertilization is not a painful procedure although some women may experience very mild cramping after it is complete.

The in vitro process will be completed as close to your date of ovulation as possible, and the fertilized eggs may still take ten to fourteen days to implant. Most early pregnancy tests can only be taken five to seven days before your period is expected to start. This waiting process can make for a very long two weeks. As much as possible you should find other things to think about and occupy your time. Sitting at home wondering “Am I pregnant” will not make time pass by any quicker. Home pregnancy tests check the levels of hCG, or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in your urine. The levels of hCG increase exponentially the more pregnant you are. If you take a test five days or seven days before you expect your period and it is negative there is still hope. The closer you get to the first day of your period (if you aren’t pregnant) the higher the hCG level will be and the more likely you are to see a positive test result. Levels will of course be the strongest after the first day of a missed period.

There are blood tests that can check for elevated levels of hCG, but as with the urine tests the levels will be higher closer to the date you would expect your period to start. Your doctor will probably not consider performing an hCG blood test until after the first day of your next period has passed. Once you have received a positive pregnancy test your doctor will probably perform an ultrasound to make sure that the egg or eggs have implanted properly.

Many of the early symptoms of an IVF pregnancy are the same as for any other pregnancy, and unfortunately some of them are also symptoms that occur before the start of a menstrual cycle. Some symptoms of early pregnancy that can occur in the two week waiting period include headaches, excessive saliva, and cramping. Headaches can be one sign of early pregnancy. Headaches in early pregnancy can be attributed to hormone surges, and to high levels of stress wondering whether or not you have conceived. Excessive saliva can be another sign of early pregnancy that women experience during the two week wait. Excessive saliva can be caused by nausea and hormone changes. Cramping or other lower abdominal discomfort can also be a symptom of early pregnancy. When a fertilized egg attaches, or implants, to the uterine lining it can cause some cramping or mild discomfort.

Fatigue, breast changes, nausea, and frequent urination can also be early pregnancy symptoms. Fatigue is a common early pregnancy symptom and is a result of your body preparing for a great deal of physical and emotional changes over the course of a pregnancy. Fatigue can just leave you feeling a little more tired than usual or so tired that getting out of bed and getting dressed feels like an insurmountable task. Breast changes care another possible sign of early pregnancy. Your breasts may be swollen or feel tender, or they may feel tight as though your skin has been stretched overnight. For some women the nipples or areola of the breast will become darker or brighter. Nausea is another possible symptom of early pregnancy. Some women are nauseous from the first moment of conception, others develop morning sickness later in the first trimester, and some lucky women are never nauseous at all. Frequent urination can also be a symptom of early pregnancy, and is also related to the excessive thirst some women feel during pregnancy. The more fluid you take in the more you will have to eliminate. Pregnancy increases a woman’s metabolic rate as well as her blood volume and this is what causes the need to urinate so frequently.

Implantation bleeding, increased basal body temperature and intuition are other possible signs of early pregnancy. Implantation bleeding occurs for some women when the fertilized egg implants to the uterine wall. This can cause some light spotting and in some cases cramping and abdominal discomfort. For women who have been tracking their basal body temperature for ovulation they may notice that their basal body temperature remains higher during early pregnancy. Intuition is simply feeling that you are pregnant. Some women just “know”. They can feel very subtle changes inside of their body and they intuitively know that they have conceived.

In vitro fertilization can be a very effective method for women who have been unable to conceive through other methods. Stay positive and calm and your chances for success will be that much higher. Enjoy your pregnancy and remember that other than the method of conception your pregnancy should be just as “normal” as everyone else’s.

Young Preteen Models

Preteen models belong to the age group of early adolescents and those before.Modeling is a highly promising realm for those in the preteen group. They can represent in fashion modeling, newspaper advertisements, TV commercials, fashion modeling, billboards, magazine covers, etc. Preteen models, teen and young models, fashion models, etc. can act as props for exhibiting lifestyle articles such as designer dresses, ornaments, apparel accessories, cosmetic items and even educational courses and products. They may include young boys and girls and kids also.

Preteen models belong to the diversity of ethnic and geographical backgrounds.Among them, there are Latin American, Russian, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, West Asian, African, etc. The preteen models, being minors, need to be attended by their guardians in their career. The ever-increasing commercialization has necessitated growth of fashion modeling and preteen modeling. In fact, many famous actresses like Brooke Shields, Katherine Heigl and Lindsay Lohan started their career as preteen models. Another successful child model is Lissane Falk. Falk also started as child fashion model and later became an actress. Many child models have become successful in the modeling industry and the trend has attracted several parents and preteens to modeling. However, it is often difficult to launch the career of a model. It is all the more difficult in the face of growing competition. Models who are already in the field and those who have relationship with modeling agencies may find it easier to get casting calls than those who are new to the field.

Most of the celebrities in the modeling industry have entered the field through preteen modeling. Celebrities like Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Beverly Johnson, Janice Dickinson, Tyra Banks, Gisele Bundchen, Christie Brinkley, Petra Nemcova, etc. belong to this group of celebrity models. Other well-known models like Natalia Vodianova, Karolina Kurkova, Lily Cole, Gemma Ward, etc.They were young preteen models,entered the world of fashion and modeling in their teens and have stayed great ever since and grew in to celebrity status.

Preteen and other models may appear in their best appearance suggestive of a luxurious life. In fact, they have gained success through a series of workouts and preparations. If they grow to be fashion models, appearing in magazines and billboards, sometimes they need to forget modesty. Fashion modeling is subject to informal posing, sometimes to nudity. In order to present the best of the modeling talents of preteens, seasoned and skilled photographers’ service is essential. Precision is the hallmark of good fashion modeling photography and precision in the art can make or mar the quality of the photography.

Tallit Katan Buying Tips

Although strictly speaking there is no obligation to wear tzitzit when not wearing a four-cornered garment, today the custom is to undertake the obligation by wearing a specially designed four-cornered garment under your shirt all day, every day. Verses in the Torah explicitly state that looking at the tzitzit tassels reminds us to keep the mitzvot at all times and helps us overcome unseemly impulses. According to the Talmud (Menachos 43b), the commandment of tzitzit is the equivalent of all the mitzvahs combined.

When you set out to buy a tallit katan, you’ll have a number of issues to consider, including the fabric, the basic design and the type of tzitzit strings.

Choosing the fabric

According to halacha, wool is considered the fabric of choice, but cotton is also permitted. Both the Chazon Ish and the Vilna Gaon reportedly wore a tzitzit garment (known as “arba kanfot” or “tallit katan) made of cotton. Many Chassidim, who typically wear the tallit katan on top of their shirt, choose synthetic fabric because they do not wrinkle like cotton, but Rabbi Moshe Feinstein ruled that only woven fabrics – wool, cotton, linen, silk – are viewed as real garments according to halacha. He argues that in this regard synthetic fabrics that are not woven would be considered akin to leather, which is explicitly exempt from the obligation of tzitzits.

The design

Wool arba kanfot garments generally come with a black stripe near the front bottom edge, but sometimes you will find an option for white striping, which is the predominant Sephardic custom. Generally the neck opening has a slit running down the chest to make the tallit katan easier to don and wear, but some people insist on a round opening on the grounds that the minimum size is measured from the bottom of the slit, which would mean it does not meet the minimum size requirement of 18 inches (or according to more stringent rulings, 20, 22 or 24 inches respectively).

In recent years a new tallit katan design appeared on the market, known as NeaTzit or TrimTzit or “tzitzit shirt.” Generally made of cotton, it is partly closed on the sides to stay in place better, which is particularly helpful for kids or for adults playing sports. Some even wear it in place of an undershirt.

The tzitzits

Near each of the four corners is a hole (or a pair of holes according to the Chassidic custom). Be sure the eyelets are reinforced, otherwise the fabric will tear quickly whenever the tzitzits are pulled abruptly for whatever reason.

Cotton arba kanfot garments typically come with machine-spun tzitzit already tied. If you buy a wool tallit katan you may have an option of either machine-spun or hand-spun tzitzit strings. Hand-spun are clearly preferred according to halacha, and the difference in price is not significant. Occasionally you will come across very high grade tzitzits known as “lashonot” and “niputz lishmah,” and today many people opt for techelet, which is even more expensive and is a topic in its own rights.

Generally the tzitzit strings on a tallit katan are thin, but some people opt for the thick tzitzits generally reserved for a tallit gadol (a prayer shawl).

Whichever tzitzit strings you choose, be sure they are certified kosher by a reliable rabbinical supervisor (e.g. Eida Chareidit or Rabbi A.A. Wosner).

There may also be an option to tie them yourself, which is not very difficult to learn, and tzitzit tying guides can be readily found online.

Shop Iceland – Candy, Food, Music And Movies At Iceland Shop

If you have never been to Iceland, one way you can experience this country is to shop Iceland online. You can find candy that is unique to this country as well as movies and music and traditional foods from Iceland when you go to an online Iceland shop.

Thanks to the internet, it is now easier than ever to get imported products from countries that you might not otherwise visit. Iceland candy is very popular with children as well as adults and there are many Smurf candies that are available when you shop at an online Iceland shop.

Because the internet makes it so convenient to buy products from other countries, you can shop Iceland with ease. You can take a look around at the different types of candy and foods that are traditional to this part of the world. The next best thing to visiting a country is eating the food and candy from the country and you can now do that easily when you go to an Iceland shop.

In addition to food, you can also learn something about the culture of Iceland when you buy movies and music. You can shop Iceland for all things that are unique to this part of the world simply by going online. It is the easiest way to get what you want while also giving you the opportunity to experience the culture of this charming country.

Many people who decide to shop Iceland are familiar with the country itself. These are people who are from the country itself or have been living here for long and may now be living in other parts of the world where they miss the foods, music and movies from home. Others who visit an Iceland shop may be people who have heard so much about the country and are curious about the country and culture and want to learn more about it. And there is no better way to do so than by shopping at a store online that sells products from Iceland.

You can use your credit card when you visit an Iceland shop and get your order shipped right to your door. You will feel as though you are visiting the country when you shop Iceland as there are so many things for you to explore. The food in this part of the world is delicious and the candy is exquisite. If you are looking for something different to give as a gift to someone or to yourself, you need to shop Iceland and take a look at the selection online.

From movies to music to food, you can experience everything from Iceland no matter where you live as long as you have a computer and access to the internet. You can shop Iceland right from your home and have the items delivered right to your door. When you visit an online Iceland shop, it is the next best thing to actually visiting the country of Iceland.