May 2017 - Page 8 of 17

In Pursuit of knowledge (Content Strategi – SEO)

The pursuit of knowledge is a time-honoured tradition. From times of yore the importance of having the right knowledge and wisdom has been stressed upon us and why not? As the saying from Hitopadesha goes,

Meaning that true knowledge gives humility, and with humility one becomes qualified. With good qualifications one attains wealth, and with wealth, one can do good & noble deeds. That, in turn, leads to happiness.

And that is what we all seek: to be happy. To that end, we pursue valuable knowledge that will give us the wisdom to accomplish our goals

Knowledge: The instrument that determines our actions

In today’s age, there is no dearth of information. We are in fact, bombarded by a constant stream of information from a variety of sources. But, for our actions to contribute meaningfully to society, the knowledge we gain should be credible and worthy.

This premise for sharing good content & thoughts with the world is not new. It dates back to the days of Rig-Veda.

It implies a sense of common welfare and inclusiveness. It tells us that it is our responsibility to share knowledge and spread good ideas.

A laudable idea can take root and expand to transform lives and elevate communities. It all depends on the knowledge we have collected and the wisdom we have acquired.

Thus making appropriate information available for learning is the first step to building a better community.

Organisations like Khan Academy are already delivering free content, educating the youth of our world. As the leaders of tomorrow, enabling their noble pursuits will ensure a brighter future.

Knowledge and Wisdom: The conundrum

Gaining knowledge on a plethora of subjects is quite convenient and easy in this digital age. However, without good insight and the ability to separate the good from the bad, the knowledge serves no useful purpose. For society to develop, knowledge must be tempered with a clarity of perception to be of any good to the common welfare. And that is wisdom acquired through deep learning.

As Sri Aurobindo expounded, it is wisdom that can tear down the veil of false appearances and find the hidden kernel of truth. Knowledge is just the instrument that helps us gain the understanding we need.

This forms the basis for an advanced society. A good system of learning is key to societal development and overall wellbeing. It rouses the people’s ability to think, formulate their ideas and principles, free themselves from propaganda & dogma and contribute positively to society.

Let the light of knowledge shine bright and true

Meaning: A fool is revered at home, a Lord in his village, a king in his country but a learned man and scholar is revered everywhere.

A wise person is celebrated universally, an exemplary honour that no on else can claim.

So the pursuit of knowledge and the resulting wisdom is a noble and commendable goal. Let us do our best to see that those seeking knowledge can always find it and never be stymied, for intellectual curiosity is the first step to transforming lives.

Keywords: pursuit of knowledge, knowledge and wisdom, learning content, knowledge in digital age, free learning resources, education and wisdom

Importance Of Lead Qualification (Rank Princess – SEO)

So what is a lead? A lead defined by Wikipedia is “The identification of a person or entity that has the interest and authority to purchase a product or service.” Leads nowadays usually refers to potential customers or entities that are interested in buying a product or service, and this usually means filling out a form online, or even a straight up physical DM form that can be filled out by hand!

But regardless of the entity the lead takes on, it is important that lead consists of the person’s contact details (Or the company’s contact information) so that the firm pursuing the lead will have the right information to target the required demographic, translating into potential sales. A qualified lead is, however, much different from just a “lead.”

What Is A Qualified Lead?

A qualified lead contains more than just information about the person or entity (Company) that is interested in your product. It contains the “Qualification” that company has towards buying your product.

This is done using the BANT approach which stands for Budget, Authority, Need, and Timescale.

By “Budget,” it means to analyse if the company has enough finance to purchase the product.
“Authority” refers to the decision of making the purchase.
“Need” means to analyse whether or not the service or product they are willing to buy can be of any use to them, and

Time usually refers to whether or not they want to make the purchase within a particular time frame.

With this newfound information, the company issuing the lead can now analyse and determine which leads can turn into potential sales, and which cannot. These leads that can turn into potential sales are called as qualifying leads.

To learn more about Qualified Leads click here.

Leads Classified As Levels

Now there are certain “Levels” within which you may rank a lead into:

Level 1: Any contact is a lead, even if it is the most basic of information.

Level 2: At this stage, it is important to know the position of the person in a company or the company’s data and stocks.

Level 3: It is important to acknowledge the leads at this point, whether or not the company in pursuit of the leads can issue the product.

Level 4: The Company needs to be clear on the requirements from the lead’s side.

If not it is important to hold back the lead until the prospect’s requirements are cleared.

Level 5: The firm pursuing the lead would issue the BANT at this point. It is important to hold off any progress until all the requirements for fulfilling BANT have been ticked off.

A “Sales Ready” lead is often more than not a very difficult thing to pull off. It requires the right judgment and the proper marketing to translate into a successful sale.

By following the steps that have been played out for the lead qualification such as BANT etc., a company can take advantage of its comprehensive marketing capabilities to find the right “Qualified Leads” that would translate into potential sales.

References

www.fullcontact.com

www.dwsassociates.com/marketing

www.inflexion-point.com/blog

LSI Keywords

Lead qualification importance

Qualified lead contents

BANT approach lead qualification

Determining leads into potential sales

Leads classification by levels

Sales-ready leads

Steps for lead qualification

Requirements from leads in marketing

#StartInCollege- Before It Is Too Late (Rank Princess)

Breaking the Stereotype

We have lived and still live in a society where the only two career options given to students are either engineering or medicine. Some of the best minds invest years of their college life behind books only to ultimately work for other people.

Our country has some of the best engineering colleges with some of the brightest minds taking admission every year. No matter how good the curriculum design might be, only theory is not enough for the holistic growth and development of any student.

Practical knowledge and skill development is an integral part of any learning process. One needs to gain some hands-on experience and industry exposure to become industry ready.

Widen Your Horizons with Startup Village

How about you get the opportunity to get practical exposure before you get recruited? What if you get the chance to incubate your idea and nourish it further? What if you also get the opportunity to get your investors to bring your idea to life?

And, what if you get them all in one package?

We use the internet for a lot of reasons. We socialise, we network, we entertain ourselves, but we hardly devote time to studying online. What we only do is look for information on Google.

Have you ever considered studying dedicatedly online?

Startup Village is here to provide you opportunities like never before. If you have a hidden entrepreneur inside you, if you have revolutionary start-up ideas, Startup Village will provide you with the right platform for learning and cultivate it further.

You are admitted for a six months course on start-up that will entirely take place online. They have the best learning module designed for you, taking online learning to a whole new level. You do not need to appear for any admission test. Your abilities are judged on the product you build.

The Process Of Learning At SV

Join as a team leader, and then create your team further. You build your product decks and learn coding to build real products. Then you start talking to real customers and find your investors. Finally, the best part- you get to experience the Silicon Valley before you even finish college.

All of this is offered to you in a matter of six months. It is the best place for ambitious, innovative students, who want to explore beyond the classroom. It will most certainly give wings to your ideas and help you learn about the nitty-gritty of building your start-up from scratch.

What Are You Waiting For?

Books are good, but learning beyond books has become the need of the hour. So you think you have it in you to pursue an extensive course and see your idea grow? Apply to Startup Village right away and imbibe all that is there on offer.

Are you still not sure? Want more details? Look up the site SV.co.

You can also witness stories of the ones who have already tasted success. View the success stories here.

You will find engineers by the dozen. All of them flock to work for renowned companies. Very few get the opportunity to grow from small start-ups to well-known companies. Here is your chance. Do not miss it!

Five People You Would Meet In A Founding Startup Team (Rank Princess – SEO)

You can take it for granted that in the stormy startup world, there are bound to be instances where everything goes wrong. Only exceptional founding teams can stand through competition, funding issues, market fluctuations, staff departures, etc. and steer the boat to the safety of the shore.

So how you set up your founding team, more or less, decides the trajectory of your business.

A stellar founding team would incorporate a bouquet of personalities, each with a unique talent. So here is a list of the only five people you would need in your founding team to make it rock!

The Prima Donna Leader

He is the Danny Ocean here, leading the pack of 11, or 5 in this case! He is usually seen as the honest, insightful, suave genius who would be manning the wheel through thick and thin.

He challenges the rest of the team, asking for things that everyone is unsure of. Filled with passion and authority to take a decision during conflicts or controversies, he is clearly the nucleus of the cell.

The Veteran Designer

Although start-ups are usually formed around exciting new ideas, it helps to have someone who knows the direction of currents in the industry. The veteran is the person who has an understanding of the competitive landscape, PR campaigns and the design of the project.

He can identify customer needs to add all the relevant characteristics of the product. If you notice a dreamy professor in the group, with a ruffled hairstyle and sparkling eyes buzzing with ideas, he is the one!

The Tech-Savvy Programmer

He is the geek, the nerve centre of the team, the member who puts together various technologies to build the product or service. He knows how to leverage technology to create a sustainable business model.

You can spot him wearing a crown, as he is simply indispensable. We like to call him the rainmaker who can load clouds with water crystals at the click of a button!

The Lion of Sales

Startups with blazing ideas should not forget that someone should be at the helm, selling them. Enter the lion of sales. He is a customer champion who purely focuses on consumer needs and pitches the product in an intuitive, crisp and clear manner.

He understands the benefits of attuning to user feedback and is incessantly in the pursuit of finding more customers. You can recognise him easily, as he is the aggressive one in the pack with a blazing mane.

The All-Rounder of Operations

He understands the burn rate, the viability and profitability of the business and he fine tunes the day-to-day operations of the startup, based on these calculations. Aggregating resources and raw materials and keeping track of their usage, all come under his umbrella. You can recognise him as the bespectacled youngster with an attitude that trumps it all!

On a final note, it is mandatory to collate great skills and varying personalities in the founding team. This is like an insurance policy that protects the boat during hard times. Pick people with similar beliefs on how they run their life, as this could come in handy in the long run.

LSI Keywords: Founding Startup Team, founding teams, Prima Donna Leader, Veteran Designer, Tech-Savvy Programmer, Lion of Sales, All-Rounder of Operations

References

https://www.fastcompany.com/3032548/hit-the-ground-running/the-only-6-people-you-need-on-your-founding-startup-team

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-perfect-startup-team

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/238883

http://tech.co/how-to-build-a-startup-team-2010-08

https://bothsidesofthetable.com/how-to-configure-your-startup-team-3fb25f7281b0#.vg7gufwh8

https://medium.com/startups-and-investment/the-importance-of-the-founding-team-82fdf7121a27#.4z5uvdwqr

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-important-startups-founding-team-who-should-included-alibhai

https://www.cta.tech/News/Blog/Articles/2014/March/What-Makes-for-a-Successful-Startup-Founding-Team.aspx

The GMAT- A Mighty Foe in Comprehension (Content Princess – SEO)

The GMAT (The Graduate Management Admission Test) was developed by the Graduate Management Admission Council (or GMAC) and assesses analytical writing and problem-solving mechanics that are believed to be essential to real-world business management success. You can currently take the GMAT exam in one of 600 test centres around the world, and roughly 250,000 people take the exam every year. The GMAT test adjusts according to your ability to answer questions in a quick and timely manner, so even if you’re successful and well prepared,you’ll have your work cut out for you. No pressure, though.

Know Thy Enemy

The exam itself can be broken down into four different segments, each with their own particular focus, duration, and question types.

Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA)
Integrated Reasoning
Quantitative
Verbal

The Analytical Writing Assessment consists of merely one answer. Don’t get too comfortable with that idea, though. It’s in the form of a 30-minute essay where you must provide a well-articulated analysis of an argument.

The Integrated Reasoning portion measures your ability to assess vital information from multiple sources and formats properly. It consists of 12 questions that cover graphics interpretation, two-part analysis, multi-source reasoning, and table analysis.

The Quantitative section measures your ability to use the information given in a problem and reason quantitatively. This is the section where some arithmetic knowledge and insight comes to great use, as calculators are not permitted. Ouch! There are 3 questions in this portion.

Finally, the Verbal section is primarily comprised of reading comprehension and critical reasoning questions with the primary focus being to measure your ability to analyse and draw satisfactory conclusions.

Grading of the GMAT Test

Each section offers its own grading scale, but only two actually factor into your overall GMAT score (which range from 200-800, with the average from test takers being somewhere between 400-600). The AWA and Integrated Reasoning sections do not affect the overall score. A breakdown of the scoring scale is provided below.

AWA- The essay is graded on a scale of 1-6.
Integrated Reasoning- These 12 questions are graded on a scale of 1-8.
Quantitative- Graded on a scale of 0-60, GMAC reports scores only between 6 to 51.
Verbal- Graded on a scale of 0-60 as well, scores below 9 or above 44 are quite rare.

The True Test

While there are no true prerequisites to speak of, a good understanding of the English language and your ability to process comprehensive questions quickly is essential to acing the GMAT exam.

Considering the umbrella of information it broadly covers.There’s one critical area that could help lead to success in every branch of the exam: your ability to quickly read and understand the information and reading passages (particularly vital in the comprehension and essay section). While an amount of English fluency is assumed for the exam, what if you’re from abroad? Business doesn’t just thrive and grow in English countries, after all.

So let’s focus on improving your reading speed, shall we?

Your New Best Friend, Streamlined Note Taking

This may go without saying, but let’s cover it anyway. Do you find yourself overwhelmed and struggling with some notes you feel compelled to take during passages? There’s a subtlety to taking proper notes to these passages.

It’s essential to evaluate what’s important to the question/task at hand. Proper filtration of sufficient data is one of the things this test primarily focuses on, and this is where that school of thought rears its head the most. Reviewing the questions before delving into the content can help you filter through the non-essentials as you go.

When starting on your notes, don’t just rewrite the information as you see it. Focus on what’s important. What is the point of view/argument? Where are the examples? Is it informational or opinionated? Breaking down most of your notes into these basic categories can help you sift through the barrage of information present in the roughly 350-word passages

Proper Prepping

There’s not really a quick and easy way to completely ace your GMAT, and there are many different solutions and ideas on what to do for prep. There are actually various websites and forums dedicated to helping people study and prep for this exam as much as possible. At the end of the day, however, nothing beats hard work and persistence when it comes to any major test, but knowing a few easy tricks beforehand to help you speed up comprehensively can help you get a major jump start on the meat of the problems ahead.

Primary Keyword: GMAT

LSI Keywords:

Variants: overall GMAT score, ace your GMAT, GMAT test, acing the GMAT exam, take the GMAT exam

Antonyms/Synonyms: Analytical Writing Assessment, major test, comprehensive questions, Reviewing the questions, easy tricks, hard work and persistence, critical reasoning questions, Quantitative, Verbal, graphics interpretation, English fluency

Sources:

http://www.mba.com/us/the-gmat-exam/about-the-gmat-exam.aspx

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduate_Management_Admission_Test

http://www.beatthegmat.com/

https://gmat.economist.com/blog/verbal/gmat-reading-comprehension-improve-speed-taking-notes

http://gmatclub.com/forum/how-to-destroy-reading-comprehension-passages-by-rhyme-30247.html#p205035

Five Essentials To Landing A Job In The Hospitality Industry (Content Princess – SEO)

The hospitality industry in India employs nearly 9{ed162fdde9fdc472551df9f31f04601345edf7e4eff6ea93114402690d8fa616} of the country. Tourist visas have increased nearly 300{ed162fdde9fdc472551df9f31f04601345edf7e4eff6ea93114402690d8fa616} since 2015, and demand for employees has increased at nearly the same rate.

Do you envision a career of top-quality customer satisfaction? Are you driven by creating memorable experiences for others?

India has seen a substantial increase of tourists since 2015, and the boom in the hospitality industry is evident. If your dream is to make a career out of outstanding customer experiences, you have nothing but opportunities in front of you.

To prepare for your career in the hospitality industry, it’s important to take a few things into consideration:

Start with an entry-level position

It’s important to dream big for your career, but you also have to be realistic as you break into the industry.

Your career in the industry will grow from time on the front lines. The only way to climb the ladder is to start at the bottom, so take pride in your first entry-level position.

The insight you gain through working with customers will be invaluable to your career and will show future employers that you aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty.

Build a stellar resume

Once you’ve chosen the position you want to apply for, build your resume to highlight your relevant experience.

If you’re breaking into an entry-level position, you won’t likely have much field-related work experience. However, your resume isn’t limited to work experience. Don’t forget:

Personal projects
Relevant volunteer work
Relevant personal skills, i.e. Photoshop or Excel
Life experience
Language skills

Define your long-term career goals

While it’s important to start small, you need to have your long-term career goals fleshed out before your interview.

Employers want people who want to climb the ladder and build their careers. They want motivated self-starters who have a clear goal in mind, and a plan to get there.

Know where you want to be in five, ten, and twenty years. Do you want to be a cruise ship director? Or a hotel manager? Is your dream to build your own business within the hospitality industry?

It’s not enough to know what you want to be; you also need to know howyou’re going to get there. Having a strategy will show your future employers that you mean business.

Research your field

It’s not enough to know you want to work on a cruise ship. You need to be familiar with the education, training, and experience necessary to fill your desired position.

For instance, many cruise ships have a minimum and maximum age limit for employment. There may also be language requirements, such as fluency in English.

Restaurants may require food safety licenses and certifications. Hotels may require a housekeeping certification.

Even if the position you’re applying for has no special requirements, you may still be eligible for higher wages or faster promotions if you spend the time to educate yourself in your field. As you move up the ladder, keep researching the requirements of the positions above you, and begin your training, so you are prepared for advancement.

Be passionate, but also flexible

Passion will drive your career further than any degree. Your love for your job will resonate with future employers, and help drive your commitment to your career goals.

While it’s imperative to be passionate about your career, it’s just as important to be flexible.

Future employers will want to know you are willing to learn all aspects of your industry. If you want to manage a restaurant, you may start by washing dishes. It’s a boring, tedious, necessary aspect of understanding your field.

As you begin preparing for a career in the hospitality industry, don’t miss out on the opportunity to educate yourself and add to your resume:

Above all else; stay confident! Your career is the product of your effort.

Regardless of what position you hold, never forget the fire that brought you into the hospitality industry, and keep focusing on the next step.

Primary Keyword: hospitality industry

Variants: career in the hospitality industry, boom in the hospitality industry, hospitality industry in India, within the hospitality industry, into the hospitality industry

Antonyms/Synonyms: restaurant management, cruise ship director, hotel manager, customer satisfaction, customer experiences, hospitality courses, long-term career goals, passionate about your career

Sources:

http://lifehacker.com/5977964/include-personal-projects-on-resumes-when-youre-just-starting-out

https://www.livecareer.com/jobs-tips/industry-type/hospitality

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2016/03/02/12-qualities-employers-look-for-when-theyre-hiring/#4f3d8b817508

http://experience.usatoday.com/cruise/story/cruise-101/2015/06/30/what-its-like-to-be-a-cruise-director-for-carnival/29466795/

http://lifehacker.com/career-spotlight-what-i-do-as-a-hotel-manager-1680432854

https://www.thetravelacademy.com/travel-careers/cruise-ship-school

http://www.cruiseshipjobs.com/career-advice/age-and-other-requirements

http://www.bsigroup.com/en-IN/ISO-22000-Food-Safety/training-courses-for-iso-22000/

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/09/education-training-advantages.asp

http://www.iihm.co.in/

http://study.com/articles/List_of_Free_Online_Hotel_Management_Courses_and_Lessons.html

http://www.mumbaicollege.com/onlinecourse.html

http://www.shortcoursesportal.com/disciplines/64/hospitality-leisure-sports.html

http://www.firstpost.com/business/e-visa-boost-foreign-tourist-arrivals-in-india-zooms-293-to-over-4-34-lakh-in-2016-so-far-2840310.html

http://info.shine.com/industry/hotels-hospitality/12.html

Marriage And Husbands: What Today’s Modern Woman Wants (Content Princess – SEO)

Traditional gender roles are fading, giving way to an equal marital platform. Today’s modern woman can voice her desires for her marriage, strengthening the bond and building a rock-solid foundation.

It’s tough being a woman. Possibly more challenging being a modern woman breaking traditional gender norms.

However, as the world progresses, women are gaining an empowered voice, and that voice has a lot to say about marriage. While every marriage is different, there are certain constants that every woman desires.

“I’m half of this whole.”

While the traditional marriage centred on the man making important decisions, it’s time to start making them together. Women discover the world through incredible lenses. Valuing that insight, and considering her opinion before making decisions, will show that you truly have the family’s best interest at heart.

“Communication is the Key.”

Women value honest communication with their husbands over an expensive gift. While men focus on wealth and status, women focus on being heard and understood. Giving her your full attention is a gift that cannot be measured with a price tag.

“See me.” – says the soul of your woman

The pressure of being a wife and mother is crushing enough without your husband adding to it. Remember; your wife is not your mother, and she has her own strengths and weaknesses.

She will flourish in an environment with the flexibility to find her own way of doing things, and end up far surpassing even her own expectations.

“Help her out” – Share the house chores

Taking out the garbage has been the firing pin in many spousal arguments. Though traditionally a woman’s responsibility, times have changed. With women beginning to pursue their own careers, and share some of the financial burdens, it follows that men should start pitching in on the home front.

“Play with the children.”

Few moments surpass those you spend with your kids. Men can instil important values in their children, such as learning how to treat women with respect. It’s also an excellent way to teach them about the importance of unity.

“Encourage my career path.”

Women thrive with a strong husband in their corner. Instead of asserting the importance of your career over hers, try understanding how passionate she is about her work. It will give her confidence and encouragement, and let her know you see her as an equally competent partner.

“Say thank-you.”

Few things are as precious to a woman as feeling appreciated. While men can measure their success in the form of wealth and status, women measure their worth by how much the people in their life appreciate them. Cooking, cleaning, and washing dishes is a never-ending job, but a simple ‘thank you‘ makes it all worth it.

“Respect Her”

Men’s egos are constantly seeking competitions. It drives their need to outshine everyone else and also drives their fear of being seen as weak. Respecting a woman means understanding that she does not share that need to compete, and is satisfied just by feeling equal. Respect her opinions, differences, and feelings, and get ready to experience a whole new depth of love in return.

“Know the real me.”

Do you truly know your wife? Depending on how you got married, you may know very little about their past experiences. A genuine interest in who your wife is, and what made her that way, is a gift more precious than wealth or status.

Marriage norms and gender roles are being redefined. However, women have not changed. As the modern woman enters new career fields and pursues education, she is still motivated by a deep love for others, and a desire to be loved in return.

There is no limit on the amount of love and nurturing a woman can show her family. As a man learns to love and value her, he unlocks new depths of that nurturing that fulfil his desire to be cared for, and her willingness to be the caretaker of her family.

Primary Keyword: woman

LSI Keywords

Variants: today’s modern woman, nurturing a woman, Respecting a woman, precious to a woman, being a woman, woman’s responsibility, woman desires

Antonyms/Synonyms: wife, marriage, partner, husband, man, gender role, Marriage norms, caretaker of her family, Men’s egos, strong husband, importance of unity, spousal arguments

Reference Articles:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indian-men-spend-a-mere-19-minutes-a-day-on-housework/articleshow/31636967.cms

https://dilmilapp.tumblr.com/post/137841636525/13-signs-youre-in-a-healthy-relationship

https://www.emergenetics.com/blog/expressing-gratitude-saying-thank-you/

http://elitedaily.com/women/women-really-want/717145/

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Wife-Feel-Loved

http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/culture/features/11621/index2.html

Calendar Spread Strategies For Volatility Challenged Markets(Content Strategi)

When market conditions are making trading a tricky affair, it can be difficult to know where to look for secure trading. A calendar spread can be a strong medium to long term options strategy to reduce the risk of getting burned by a volatile market and to exploit any market conditions for a decent gain.

What it is

In essence, a calendar spread is a group of Options of the same stock, with the same strike price, but, crucially, with different expiration dates. Options, obviously are a time-sensitive asset, and the calendar spread profits from this sensitivity.

In essence, the trader can integrate the advantages of spreads, the difference between the market value and the strike price, with the pros of a more directional option for a trading strategy. With the strengths of these two styles combined, a calendar spread can almost guarantee profits under any trading conditions.

How calendar spreads work

A calendar spread can work in one of two ways: you can take a market neutral position and benefit from the time decay in the value of the stock options or, alternatively a shorter term market neutral position with a longer-term directional strategy.

Time Spread

A long-term calendar spread strategy, known as a Time Spread is the selling and buying of either a call or put option at the same strike price, but, crucially, those which expire at different times. In its most basic sense, you buy the longer-dated option and sell the shorter dated one. Taking this position on the short-dated option has the effect of bringing down the price of the longer dated one. Thus the trade becomes cheaper than the outright buying of the longer term option.

A long calendar spread can be one of two types. A call strategy or a put one. The put strategy has some advantages over the call, but it depends on your opinion of the underlying stock. Those of a bearish tendency will want to buy a calendar put spread; the more bullish will opt for a call.

The overall effect is to create a relatively neutral, low-risk position which will gain from the time decay of the front option sold short.

For example

Say MegaCorp stock has traded for years at between $55 and $65, this sort of “sideways trading” low volatility stock is perfect for a calendar spread. We can reasonably assume that the selling price isn’t going to shift that much regardless of market conditions. So if the stock’s trading at $61.10 our strategy is first to sell the January, $62.50 calls for $0.30 each then buy the March ones at $0.80 apiece. So the calendar spread’s net debit at this juncture is $0.50. That $0.50 represents the total risk of the trade, which is part of the reasons why calendar spreads are a good option for a canny trader.

Now, in an ideal world, the MegaCorp stock will rise a little before falling below $62.50 at the January expiration. This has the effect of removing all value from the short January call. So with two months to go until the March expiration, without too much volatility in the stock price the March calls value will stand at around $1.70. That’s a profit of $1.20 on the $0.50 spent.

The short term option expiring without making its money is, of course, a best case scenario; not all calendar spreads will work this efficiently. The beauty, though, lies in the flexibility, you still have that long position, so if you think that the market’s going to remain relatively neutral, you have the option of selling another option against that position, effectively rolling the spread over into a new one.

If, however, you feel that the stock is starting to move more in the direction you expected, you have the option of treating it as normal. It’s the ability to cover both ends of the market which make the calendar spread a healthy choice.

The secret’s in the planning

The first thing you need to do when laying the plans for a long-term calendar spread is to get a good feel for the market sentiment surrounding the stock and get a good feel for what trading conditions are going to be like over the next few months. If it’s looking bearish overall, then a put calendar spread is a healthy option.

The next step is to identify your stock. As we’ve already seen, we don’t want a stock that’s too volatile; you wouldn’t want a big difference between the bidding and asking prices.

Once you’re in the trade, close monitoring is essential. If your little option doesn’t decline as much as you’d expect, then the parameters of your overall debit (and the profit you can turn on the extended position) start to shorten. Be vigilant.

The downsides

While a properly managed calendar spread is a relatively low-risk investment strategy, it should be remembered that all investments are risks. Too much market volatility and the long position suddenly becomes a more vulnerable one.

With a time-sensitive strategy such as this, it’s important to make sure you’re keeping a close watch on the option expiration dates and time your entry into the market precisely, to ensure that you’re trading in the general direction of the stock. A mistimed entry running against the market could result in a sizeable loss.

Conclusion

The main thing to remember about calendar spreads is that it is at the start a neutral position, and generates profits only as time decays start to factor in play. It can be used in a bull or bear market, but just make sure you’re running the same way the market is. The number one thing to take away is that a calendar spread is most effective when you expect the price to stay stable in the short term, and move with market trends in the longer term. If that’s what you expect to happen, then this could well be a fruitful trading option for you.

Sources

http://www.nasdaq.com/investing/options-guide/definition-of-options.aspx

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/spread.asp

http://www.investinganswers.com/financial-dictionary/optionsderivatives/strike-price-2125

http://www.investorwords.com/6792/directional_trading.html

http://www.call-options.com/what-are-call-options.html

http://www.theoptionsguide.com/put-option.aspx

http://www.investorwords.com/8638/market_sentiment.html

Simple but Effective: Five Quick Tips you’re missing from your Ideal Product Management Portfolio (Content Princess – SEO)

If you think that portfolios are just for graphic designers and photographers, you’ve got it all wrong. Your product management portfolio is a vital tool in obtaining that perfect role for what you’ve been searching. No need to panic! Improve your chances of an interview with these five core tips:

Love your data

Love your data, and your interviewer will love you. It’s a very simple formula, but it works. Anything you describe in your portfolio will be vastly strengthened by the data you collect. For example, if you took a product right from concept to launch and it made it to a million downloads your interviewer wants to know.

Even if the product you lead failed, is there data that you can pull concerning why it failed? The hard data in your portfolio should be blindingly obvious; from there, you can spin it however you like. It is that simple to make yourself sound impressive…

Hearing the customer’s voice

How are your ears? Can you hear that consumer crying out for your product? Did you do your consumer research and fill that gap in the market? Let’s hope so. If you can’t display that you’re completely in tune with your customer or user group’s needs, you can’t claim to have a complete portfolio.

Don’t worry if your user research examples seem terribly humble to you. To your interviewer, they may well show the much initiative they’ve been looking for. So gather all the examples you have of listening to and acting on the voice of your consumer, and you’ll whip that portfolio into shape in no time!

Get ‘touchy feely’

Don’t worry – we’re not suggesting anything inappropriate here. But engaging the interviewer with something tangible from design processes you have worked on can take your portfolio to a whole new level. For example, you could try bringing in some product prototypes or even wireframes.

Sometimes it is as simple as engaging your interviewer on a human level. We all remember the ‘show and tell’ tasks at school, and this strategy works on the same theory. You interact with what you touch on so many more levels than speech alone. The result will be an engagement with your interviewer which will leave him or her with a lasting impression of you.

Always remember the team

Whether you’re currently part of a team or can reference teams you’ve worked in in the past, your team engagement is a hugely important part of a product management portfolio.

As a product manager, you are aiming to be at the centre of a complex network of everyone from designers and researchers to sales teams and senior management. You are the mediator between this highly mobilised team and the customer. Make sure your interviewing panel knows you’re up to scratch.

Build a website

And finally, it may seem obvious, but there could not be a better way of collating and displaying your portfolio work than by building your site. Even the very process of this will demonstrate your proficiency with HTML and basic coding.

And if that seems beyond your capabilities at the moment, just use one of the great services out there like ‘About.me’ or ‘LinkedIn’ and you will still be able to build your project work up into an impressive portfolio very successfully. Just remember to incorporate all the tips included above when it comes to the structure.

So you’ve read this far, which must mean you’re really serious about getting that product management portfolio. All that’s left is to follow all the tips above and work them into your top-performing portfolio.

Remember to keep on following our blogs and apply for a place on our certification programme for expert training in all the fundamentals of product management.

KEYWORDS:

Product Management, product, consumer, user, portfolio, team, service, services, customer

SOURCES:

https://www.producttalk.org/2012/06/4-questions-i-always-ask-when-interviewing-product-managers/

https://www.producttalk.org/2012/08/to-portfolio-or-not-to-portfolio/

https://www.quora.com/Do-product-managers-have-portfolios-and-if-so-what-are-good-examples#

https://www.producttalk.org/2012/09/so-you-want-to-be-a-product-manager/

5 Incredible Product Management Portfolios – And How to Create Your Own (Content Princess – SEO)

If you’re hoping to get into product management, your portfolio will be crucial. We’re going to look at 5 great product manager websites online and think about what makes them so good.

A huge number of product managers have websites detailing their experience and showcasing their management skills through their resume. Here are just five of them.

Juan J. Ramirez – http://whoisjuan.github.io

The projects included in this portfolio showcase a range of different skills with a strong focus on the software and design aspects of project management. Links to case studies on Mr Ramirez’s Medium page are also great, as they give a clearer picture of how he approaches projects.

Taylor McCaslin- https://www.taylormccaslin.com/portfolio/

By giving each project in his portfolio a category (e.g. web, mobile, talks, etc.), Mr McCaslin demonstrates a range of project management skills, including communication with consumersand design. He includes a description or a more detailed case study for each item and explains exactly how he used his skills as part of the project.

David Parelli – http://www.davidparrelli.com

The ‘Selected Work’ aspect of this product management portfolio may be relatively brief but it still clearly demonstrates Mr Parelli’s strong design skills and consumer focus. He also uses his resume to show that he is continually adding to his skill set.

Emily Ingram- http://emilyingram.com

With a thorough list of the products she has managed and her specific tasks in each, Ms Ingram shows that her skills cover business, communication and marketing, amongst others. She then emphasises these in her ‘Skills and Strengths’ section.

Martin Eriksson- http://martineriksson.com/portfolio/

In his portfolio, Mr Eriksson is clear about how his contribution to the products he manages has helped each of them to grow. It is particularly clear that he has strong business skills. Also, his blog is housed on the same website and the posts he includes help to clarify his approach to product management.

Building your portfolio

The five sites we have looked at so far have shown that successful product managers can and do fulfil different roles and make use of different skills. While you’re developing your product management portfolio, you should aim to show experience of several different product management roles.

Product managers are often said to fall into different categories. The descriptions vary, but there seem to be about four major groups.

Engineering-focused – They usually have a background in software engineering and are very focused on the performance of the product. Their skills are of most use on products that need to be very nuanced.

Business-focused – They are great if you need to market your product in a competitive sector. They can work well with other businesses and are very useful in projects that rely on partnerships.

Consumer-focused – With less knowledge of the software and design aspects of product management, these are strongest when it comes to understanding and building relationships with the product’s consumers.

Design-focused – They are focused on the design and functionality of the product. They are most useful in perfecting a product that needs to deliver a fantastic user experience.

While your background and skills are likely to lead you in a specific direction, it is useful to demonstrate that you have experience of several different product management roles. This will make your portfolio seem more rounded than if it only shows a more narrow skill set.

The other advantage of having a range of experience in your product management portfolio is that it will make you more aware of your skills and strengths. Armed with this awareness, you will be able to choose your niche and take your product management career to the next level.

Primary Keyword: product management

Variants:, product management experience, product management role, product management portfolio, product management skills, approach to product management, product management career

Synonyms/ Antonyms: product manager, resume, work experience, versatility, narrow skill set, product manager website, product manager skills, product manager resume

Resources

http://whoisjuan.github.io

https://www.taylormccaslin.com/portfolio/

http://www.davidparrelli.com

http://emilyingram.com

http://martineriksson.com/portfolio/

https://medium.com/@juanjramirez

https://medium.com/axiomzenteam/the-4-types-of-product-manager-3a507246173#.inszh52hb

http://www.sachinrekhi.com/3-types-of-product-managers-builders-tuners-innovators

http://blog.aha.io/what-type-of-product-manager-are-you/

http://onproductmanagement.net/2013/04/23/14767/