Paraguay is the second poorest country after Bolivia in South America. The people are friendly and the pace is slow. The country has about 6.7 million people and 2.3 million of them live in the capital city, Asuncion.Here are 18 tips on traveling to Paraguay:1. Spanish and Guarani are widely spoken in Paraguay.2. Summer is extremely hot and can be up to 40 degrees Celsius according to the locals. Our visit was in winter. You do need a light jacket at night and early morning. Trinidad was extremely cold at night and early morning. You need winter clothes in this part of Paraguay, bordering Argentina in the northwest.3. Time zone in Paraguay is the same as US Eastern Time.4. Electricity is 220 volts.5. Official currency is Guaraní. During our visit it was US$1 to 4400 Guaranis.6. You can withdraw US dollars or local guaranis in major bank ATMs in Paraguay. We withdrew ours at HSBC bank along Calle Palma.7. Money exchange can be made at the border town of Cuidad del Este if you are traveling by a local or tour bus from Foz do Iguacu, Brazil.8. Most shops prefer cash in Paraguay and do not accept credit cards.9. If you need to consult with a bank official, banking hours are between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.10. Tipping is 10% in restaurants and bars.11. You can travel cheaply by bus from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil to Paraguay. I do not have the experience but I’ve seen bus ticket counters in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay that sells tickets to Asuncion, Paraguay. You will have to be aware of the need to go through immigration and customs on your own.12. Americans need Paraguayan visas. It costs US$160 per person and lasts until the passport expires.13. There are American fast food restaurants in Asuncion like McDonald’s and Burger King.14. We were careful with fruit juices and salads while eating in Paraguay. On our first night in Asuncion we asked for stir-fried vegetables instead of salad. BAD choice… we were given fried salad (tomatoes, shredded carrots and lettuce).15. Services at restaurants are slower than expected. So be patient.16. Get a hair cut in Asuncion. It is cheap. My son got one at Ayala, across the Grand Palace Hotel for USD4.50 by a barber who has 40 years of experience. He paid US$25 in Florida, US$10 in Mendoza, US$15 in Montevideo and US$13 in Sao Paulo.17. Tap water is drinkable in Paraguay according to the Paraguay Tourism Board. We bought bottled water.18. Airport tax is US$31.Do you have any travel tips to Paraguay?
Video Marketing: 7 Reasons You Should Post Videos to Market Your Business
The number of small businesses using video email marketing is trending upwards. Are you on the bandwagon?? If not, you should jump on it – now.
With the technology and various tools that we have at our disposal, there is no reason for any business owner to not think of posting videos online. Quality videos can do wonders for your business and bottom line.
Here are seven reasons to start adding videos to your marketing toolbox.
1. People Love Videos
It’s only natural that people love watching videos. Humans are visual creatures. Being able to deliver a message through a captivating video is a marketing homerun.
Many people would prefer to watch a well-produced video than to read a bunch of text. You’ve probably noticed many business owners using videos instead of (or in combination with) long form sales letters. The reason is because in many cases, split testing has shown higher conversion rates with video sales letters.
2. They’re Inexpensive to Make
You don’t need a big budget to produce videos; an inexpensive camera works just fine. Of course, you can also pay for a top notch expensive camera and professionally produced video, but that’s your choice. It’s not necessary.
A well done cheaply made video will beat out an expensive but mediocre video every time.
3. It’s Easy To Distribute Online Videos
Your videos can easily be posted to sites like YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion and others. They can also easily be shared via social media sites once they’re uploaded.
4. Videos Decrease Bounce Rates
One of the metrics that Google uses to rank webpages is bounce rate – the percentage of users who land on a webpage without viewing other pages. You want to do everything you can to reduce your website’s bounce rate.
You should add your videos to your website as well as the video sharing sites. They can help lower your bounce rate which can result in higher search engine rankings and more sales.
5. Mobile Device Users Prefer Videos
More and more people are using mobile devices to surf the web. Due to the smaller screens on handheld devices, many people prefer to watch videos rather than read a bunch of text.
6. Videos Can Boost Your Brand Credibility
Producing videos is one of the best ways to boost your brand credibility. To take things further, one of the most effective ways to popularize your brand is by producing good videos that generate buzz.
Your credibility can get a huge boost if viewers see that your videos have lots of views and shares on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites.
One more point: YouTube videos now occupy many top spots at the search engines. Even if your website doesn’t rank well, your videos just might. If your videos and website can both rank well, your business will gain an incredible amount of visibility and all the good stuff that can come with it.
7. Videos Allow You to Give Product or Service Demonstrations
Videos allow you to visually explain and demonstrate your products or services. This way, people can more easily see themselves using whatever it is that you have to offer.
If you’re not sold yet, consider this: viewers are many times more likely to buy whatever it is you’re selling after watching a video.
Video Is Here To Stay
The signs are clear: video marketing is not going anywhere. It will only continue to grow in popularity. The question is will you grow with it or will you be left behind?
H-1B: What Does My Employer Have to Do?
Most people who are applying for H-1B work visas often ask about what their employer has to do to make the employment process go smoothly. This article will briefly discuss what your employer can expect to ensure the H-1B process is filed and reviewed without delay.Overview of H-1B ProcessFirst, let’s start with a primer of the H-1B process. Understanding how the process works will eventually help to understand why H-1B works the way it does.The H-1B visa is essentially broken into two steps, involving two government agencies: the Department of Labor (DOL) and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Now, this two-tier system applies to most H-1B visas and is not always the case, but it is for most people. Step one involves filing a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the DOL. After the LCA is approved, a separate application is filed with USCIS to allow and document the applicant’s employment and residency within the US.More About the LCAThe LCA serves a couple different purposes. First, it provides the DOL with information about the job offer and its qualifications. Certain EB categories, such as EB-2 and EB-3, require the job position to have a minimum education level or experience level to ably perform the job duties. The LCA determines if that job offer is legitimate with respect to the applicable EB category.Secondly, the LCA is used to determine if the employer pays the employee the “prevailing wage.” Basically, the DOL wants to ensure that employers are not underpaying temporary workers as a cost saving measure.There are some nuances for employers who are considered “dependent employers.” Dependent employers are those whose workforce consists of 15% or more H-1B employees.Employer’s RoleNow that we covered the H-1B process, we can cover what the employer’s role in both of the DOL and USCIS fronts. First, with respect to the DOL, the H-1B applicant (or the attorney representing the applicant) must cooperate with the employer to accurately report the information above to the DOL. Additionally, the LAC must be signed by the employer or an agent of the employer. The employer’s attorney does not qualify unless he/she is an employee of the employer. Without the LCA, there is no H-1B visa.Furthermore, on the immigration front, the employer also has an added role if the H-1B applicant is seeking a green card based on the H-1B visa status. The green card possibilities of an H-1B holder have been discussed in a previous article if you are looking for further information on that subject.