Retargeting

What is Retargeting?

Retargeting is the ability to serve up relevant display advertising to people who have already visited your website or landing pages.

How Retargeting works?

Placing a small piece of HTML code on the web page(s) from which you are looking to capture your retargeting audience. Whenever searchers visit one of these pages, an ad server then loads a retargeting pixel, drops a cookie onto that person’s machine and enables marketers to serve them specific display advertising wherever they may travel on the web.

Benefits of Retargeting

Online conversions are hard to achieve. Whether you want prospects to download a white pager or leave their contact information for a free trial, they may be not interested yet or may not have the time. By incorporating retargeting across your marketing activities, you can rest assured that people who don’t convert the first time aren’t lost forever – you can continue to keep your message in front of them until they are ready to engage with you.

Retargeting is also an effective lead nurturing approach. The essence of lead nurturing is to build strong, trusting and long term relationship with prospects, regardless of their readiness to buy. This includes staying top of mind with your brand, addressing the right questions or concerns at all stage of the buying cycle with relevant content and influencing all of the individual involved in the buying decision.

Another great thing about retargeting is that you can tailor your ads to address wherever your prospects are in the buying cycle. i.e. if a searcher has visited your home page and done nothing else, retarget them with ad creative that focuses on increasing your brand awareness and overall value proposition. However, if a searcher has visited specific product pages, it would be more effective to retarget them with ad creative that addresses the particular features and competitive advantages of your products.

Retargeting also gives you a second, third and fourth… chance to make a first impression. It’s not easy to convince prospects when they first hit one of your web pages that you’re the solution for them.

Feeling stuck at work?

Do you think it’s tough to tell your boss that you have more on your plate than you can do without feeling like a whiner?  Do you think It’s tough to speak up when your boss overtly or subtly make it clear that he or she does not appreciate your speaking up?

Influencing or motivating upward is a very tough challenge. Here is some advice I learned:

1.       Make it safe.

Start by asking yourself, “Why would a reasonable and rational person like your boss act this way?” Why is he/she not encouraging others to speak up? What would make it safe enough for your boss to have this conversation? Make sure that you clarify Mutual Purpose and are prepared to be very respectful when you bring up the issue. You want to make sure you across as curious and helpful rather than frustrated and judgmental. Also, don’t speculate and focus on the possible negative outcomes. We often exaggerate possible negative consequences and underplay the positives. That strategy causes us to vote for staying silent – thus voting for the status quo.

Before you open your mouth, mastering your clever stories and getting your motives and emotions right. Your boss will sense the clue from your body language before you even start talking. On the other hand, privacy makes the conversation safer. You don’t want an audience. You also want to choose a good time. Find when your boss is more receptive and has fewer work demands or stresses during a day or a week. When you talk, start with an observation and question, not a conclusion and emotion.  In your conversation, you want to honestly and empathically understand the reasons and jointly seek solutions.

2.       Talk about the real issue.

 In tough situations, we are often tempted to bring up a simple, easy topic and not the real one. In this particular case, the easy issue is that you made a suggestion and it wasn’t passed on. The real issue is that your boss has a pattern of not passing on ideas and that means that you and your colleagues face the same problems at work week after week. As part of your preparation, you’ll want to do a consequence search. What are the consequences of the boss’s behavior? Who is being impacted? When you find the consequences, you are prepared to talk about the tougher issue.

What if it doesn’t go well with your boss? There are two possible backup plans you might consider:

• Share your intentions and excuse yourself. Tell your boss that you brought up this topic to improve the results and teamwork in the company and that you didn’t intend to cause him/her any stress. Express thanks for his/her time and find a way to leave.

• Suggest a team approach. If appropriate, you might propose that the improvement   program can be done by members of the team.

For either of these plans, you need to assess what is happening in the moment and what might be the best next step. The point here is that you’ve anticipated some next steps, so when one option ends, you have a way forward. Preparation and sound anticipation improve confidence.

Speaking up to your boss can be tough. Yet I remind you that if you don’t speak up, you are voting for the status quo. Also, if you gossip or speak up in a frustrated, angry or judgmental way, you’ve diminished the relationship. Either way, you have become part of the problem. On the other hand, if you can speak up in a safe, considered and planned way, you are much more likely to solve the problem and build the relationship.

When is the best time to sell /buy a house in Toronto?

We all want to sell our house as high as possible. The question we may have in our mind is when the best time is to sell a house.  According to the Toronto Real Estate Board, the best time to sell is spring. It’s a time of renewal and change in general. From a buyer’s perspective, buying in the spring allows for a closing date early in the summertime, aligning with school and work breaks that make moving relatively easier.  

However, since the housing price in Toronto continued to increase over the past few years, you might already run into bidding wars and did not get your dream house due to high pricing in the spring market. Then, how about sell your house at off-peak season, let’s say in the wintertime.  As a seller, you may not sell your house for maximum $$$ you can get in the spring. But you probably can secure a good deal to buy your new house after you sell your current one in most cases.  There is a $35,000 price difference to buy a house in off-peak season on average.

The ideal case is that if you can buy your next house in the wintertime for a relatively lower price and set the closing date a little further out. Then start to sell your current house in the spring for maximum $$$. However, if you choose to purchase your new house before you sell your current one, make sure you consult with your bank or mortgage broker in advance as you might need an escape clause.  There are three mortgage options available in the market:

1.       Portable mortgage: transfer your existing fixed mortgage rate, loan balance and maturity date to your new mortgage.

2.       Assumable mortgage: an assumable mortgage makes your home more attractive to potential buyers by having them take over your mortgage and its existing rate. BMO Bank of Montreal can release you from any personal liability if your buyer meets BMO’s usual credit requirements and if your lawyer has completed the necessary paperwork.

3.       Bridge financing: the option can make sure that you have the funds to cover the cost of two mortgages when your closing dates don’t coincide. However, you need a lot of $$$ to pull that off because bridge financing at the bank is difficult to obtain without a buyer commitment for your existing home.  The banks will offer bridge financing about 2 percentage points above prime if the closing date for the sale of your house comes after your purchase date, but you have to have a committed buyer.

On the other hand, you have to prepare additional $$$ for the closing cost of your new house and/or when you need to carry both properties before you sell your current one.

If you choose to sell first, it comes with the risk of not finding something in the right neighborhood. The reality is no matter you choose when to sell/buy a house or whether you want to sell the current one first or buy a new one first, it always comes with pros and cons for each choice.

To sum up, it’s up to you to decide when is the good time to sell the house taken into account of your situations.

How to Negotiate Price When Renting

Don’t forget always negotiate price when renting. However, the amount of leverage you will have depend on the amount of time the rental property has been on the market, whether you are a desirable renter with good credit and excellent references, what similar property are renting for in the neighbourhood and your competition – people who are also interested in the same property.

Here are some suggestions when you negotiate price:

Do your research

Make sure you know the average rents for in the neighborhood and city where you are looking to rent. You can review classified ads on major websites and have a general idea on how much is being paid in this area.

Find out how long the rental property you want has been on the market. If it has not rented after 8 weeks of availability, the landlord will be about losing money and might be more willing to negotiate your rent.

Sell yourself as a renter

Prove that you are a great tenant compared with other people who are also interested in the property.

Bring references, the most recent pay stubs, bank balances and credit reports if you have when you meet with the landlord. It will facilitate the process of background check, credit check and employment verification and give you a big edge over other competition.

Remember you have options

Let the landlord know that you are considering other places with lower rents. You might have an extra bargaining chip.

Demonstrate flexibility

If there is no room for negotiation on the amount of rent, ask for other considerations. For example, ask whether utilities can be included, see if you can pay a lower security deposit, get an extra parking space or free cable.

Consider your timing

Start to look for a rental place at least 2 or 3 months before your current lease expires. Try to avoid rent in peak seasons i.e. it’s less likely to negotiate rent on a property in a university town in August.

Offer to sign a longer lease in exchange for a lower rent

 It costs landlords money every time a tenant moves out and a new one moves in. If you offer to sign a 3-year lease, the landlord might be comfortable enough to lower rent.

Are you ready to be a landlord?

Consider the following five steps to decide whether you are ready to become a landlord:

Understand the Responsibility Involved

First, you must determine whether being a landlord is an obligation you can even handle. The benefits of renting are numerous, such as the ability to generate passive income that covers the expenses and possibly even create a positive cash flow, the ease of tax breaks and the ability to deter the vandalism that often plagues an empty home.

However, being a landlord may not be as smooth as you expected. You need to stay on top repairs and maintenance, collect rent and potentially deal with problem tenants.

Prepare your home

Second, you need to prepare for the new tenant by thoroughly cleaning your home and making sure any appliances are working and are in good condition.

If you've decided that you are renting out a room or area within your house, make sure that you can secure that area from the rest of your home.

The next step is to write ads describe your property features that will “sell” and post it on major websites. Moreover, you need to consider the timing for rent. In general, Renters move in particular seasons; March, April, May, June, July and August are typically been the best times to locate a tenant. It is also necessary to make sure you have enough money to cover all the expenses during the period of vacancy. Normally it takes 6-8 weeks to rent out your house.

Hire professionals

It’s important to hire lawyers to draft a lease agreement making sure that it follows local laws.Furthermore, you need to work with a mortgage broker to check out renter’s credit history.You also need to find out which expenses is tax deductible.

In case of any incurred landlord-tenant issues, you may seek legal assistance to protect your rights. For more information, please check the Landlord and Tenant Board Ontario website.

Set a Competitive Price

Do a research to know the average renting price in your neighborhood and the conditions of those rental properties. Then set rent at a competitive price and make sure you highlight all the most valuable aspects of your home.

Select tenants carefully

Remember, you need to choose your tenants very, very carefully. Always check tenant’s credit history and ask tenants to provide the proof such as two most recent pay stubs, an employment letter and their previous landlord contact info.  Plus, trust your gut feeling to find tenants who will not only pay the rent on time but also maintain your house in good condition.

Once you’ve found a right tenant, ask for a reasonable security deposit (usually it’s the amount of the first and last month rent) and arrange a payment schedule.

In general, tenants will cover all utilities i.e. water, electricity, gas and water heater rental. You may choose to transfer the utility in tenant’s name. However, if your tenant fails to pay the bills, the unpaid amount will reflect on your property tax. On the other hand, you can still keep the utility in your name and collect the amount when you receive the bills.

Real Estate Investing in Hamilton, Ontario

Hamilton is a city of 500,000 people and now has a very diverse economy. With plenty of transitioning areas, a proactive economic development office and many transportation changes there are great ways to position yourself and profit as a real estate investor.

New Home market: Total Housing Starts to Rebound

Improving economic conditions and steady in-migration of homebuyers from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) will support residential construction in Hamilton. In addition, housing starts should benefit from existing home sales, which have been gaining momentum since April 2013.

During the past two census periods, approximately 4,300 people every year have been added to the Hamilton population from net migration. Nearly half of these migrants came from within Ontario. The steady annual population increases have generated more households, which bode well for housing starts in the next two years.

Rental Market: Vacancy Rate to Decline Slightly

In 2014, the average rental apartment vacancy rate in Hamilton is anticipated to decrease to three per cent. International migration has historically been a strong driver of population growth in the Hamilton area. Given that immigrants tend to lack the credit history and savings to jump into homeownership, they typically move into rental accommodation upon arriving in Canada. This phenomenon tends to put downward pressure on apartment vacancy rates in Hamilton.

In addition, Hamilton’s rental market will be supported by young adults leaving their parental homes. These young adults typically opt for less expensive rental accommodation.

Hamilton Real Estate Hotspot – Southeast Mountain

This area (Southeast) is helping Hamilton set another year of Record residential and commercial permits.

The outer Southeast is being newly developed with significant growth. New housing, serviced lots, big box stores and commercial centers are expanding the residential and commercial footprint of Hamilton.

For more information, please check the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation website.

人生，起伏，反弹

有一位老人，他的名字叫褚时健。 

 

生于1928年的褚时健出生在一个农民的家庭。1955年27岁的褚时健担任了云南玉溪地区行署人事科科长。 31岁时被打成右派，带着妻子和唯一的女儿下农场参加劳动改造。

文革结束后，1979年褚时健接手玉溪卷烟厂，出任厂长。当时的玉溪卷烟厂是一家濒临倒闭的破烂小厂。那年他51岁！扛下了这份重任。 思考： 而我们现在有很多2、30岁的人已经不想工作，害怕压力、害怕承担、怕苦怕累。到40岁已经觉得这一生的奋斗结束了。褚时健的奋斗故事51岁才刚刚开始。

经过褚时健和他的团队经过18年的努力，把当年濒临倒闭的玉溪卷烟厂打造成后来亚洲最大的卷烟厂，中国的名牌企业：红塔山集团。褚时健也成为中国烟草大王。成为了地方财政的支柱，18年的时间共为国家创税收991亿。

而就在褚时健红透全中国，走到人生巅峰时，在1999年因为经济问题被判无期徒刑（后来改判有期徒刑17年），那年的褚时健已经71岁。当从一个红透半边天的国企红人，执政了18年的红塔集团的全国风云人物一下子变成阶下囚，这个人生的打击可以说是灭顶之灾。

接下来的打击对一个老人才是致命的，妻子和女儿早在三年前已经先行入狱，唯一的女儿在狱中自杀身亡。

这场人生的游戏是何等的残酷，一般人想到的：此时这位风烛残年的老人在晚年遇到这样的不幸，只能在狱中悲凉的苟延残喘度过余生了。

三年后，褚时健因为严重的糖尿病，在狱中几次晕倒，后被保外就医。经过几个月的调理后，褚时健上了哀劳山种田，后来他承包了2400亩的荒地种橙子。那年他74岁。

王石感慨地说：我得知他保外就医后，就专程到云南山区探访他。他居然承包了2400亩山地种橙子，橙子挂果要6年，他那时已经是75岁的老人了，你想像一下，一个75岁的老人，戴着一个大墨镜，穿着破圆领衫，兴致勃勃地跟我谈论橙子6年后挂果是什么情景。所以王石说：人生最大的震憾在哀劳山上！是穿着破圆领衫，戴着大墨镜，戴着草帽，兴致勃勃的谈论6年后橙子挂果的75岁褚时健。6年后，他已经是81岁的高龄。

后来有人问深圳万科集团董事长王石：你最尊敬的企业家是谁?王石沉吟了一下，说出了一个人的名字。不是全球巨富巴菲特、比尔．盖茨或李嘉诚，也不是房地产界的某位成功人士，而是一个老人，一个跌倒过并且跌得很惨的人。

这些看起来无法跨越的困难并没有阻挡褚时健，他带着妻子进驻荒山，昔日的企业家成为一个地道的农民。几年的时间，他用努力和汗水把荒山变成果园，而且他种的冰糖脐橙在云南1公斤8块钱你都买不到，原来这些产品一采摘就运往深圳、北京、上海等大城市，效益惊人。因为褚时健卖的是励志橙。

王石再去探望褚时健时，他看到了一个面色黝黑但健康开朗的农民老伯伯。他向王石介绍的都是果园、气温、果苗的长势。言谈之间，他自然地谈到了一个核心的问题：2400亩的荒山如何管理？ 他使用了以前的方法，采用和果农互利的办法。他给每棵树都定了标准，产量上他定个数，说收多少果子就收多少，因为太多会影响果子的质量。这样一来，果农一见到差点儿的果子就主动摘掉，从不以次充好。他制定了激励机制：一个农民只要任务完成，就能领上4000块钱，年终奖金2000多块，一个农民一年能领到一万多块钱，一户三个人，就能收入三四万块钱，比到外面打工挣钱还多。

他管理烟厂时，想到烟厂上班的人挤破头；现在管理果园，想到果园干活的人也挤破头。这个已经85岁的老人，把跌倒当成了爬起，面对人生的波澜，他流过泪，也曾黯然神伤。

现今，经过评估，褚时健的身家又已过亿。

他的那种面对任何人生的磨难所展示出来的淡定，让他作为企业家的气质和胸怀呼之欲出。王石说：如果我在他那个年纪遇到挫折，我一定不会像他那样，而是在一个岛上，远离城市，离群独居。

王石的感慨，褚时健并没有听到。他在红塔集团时带的三个徒弟，现在已是红河烟厂、曲靖烟厂、云南中烟集团的掌门人，对他来说，他在曾经最辉煌时跌倒，但在跌倒后又一次创造神话，这就足够了。

褚时健这个最富争议的人物，给了我们一个答案衡量一个人成功的标志。不是看他登到顶峰的高度，而是看他跌到低谷的反弹力——巴顿将军！

未来的路上，不管遇到多大的困难，请想想这位老人，记住他的31岁、51岁、71岁、75岁、85岁....

最后一句话送给所有的朋友：抓住机遇！活在希望里 。