GOOGLE GLASSES:THE NEXT BIG THING AFTER AN IPHONE?

GOOGLE GLASSES: THE NEXT BIG THING AFTER AN IPHONE??

Project Glass is a research and development program by Google to develop an augmented reality head-mounted display (HMD) named Google glass. Project Glass products display information in a smartphone -like format hands-free, and can interact with the Internet via natural language voice commands. The eye wear has minimalist appearance and uses Google's Android operating system.

As a concept its a no brainer…ton of people wear glasses..imagine if those glasses had the ability to tell you the weather ..maybe like a tiny weather widget …imagine if it could take photos/videos or have the ability to live broadcast what your seeing to your friends/audience aka FaceTime with the back camera. Is it the future of journalism ? recording scientific experiments ? photography ? voice communication? Yes please!

Making this concept work in real life..now that’s the difficult part.

The thought of doing these things instantly by just your voice without bothering to remove your cellphone sounds magical...almost too magical.

Will people walk around talking to these “glasses” risking looking weird adding to that the risk of the glasses not being able to understand what they said because of background noises or it just dint get you.

The future of Google glasses hinges on voice recognition, which isn't just good enough yet. How many people actually walk around in public talking to Google now? ..thought so. It’s just not technology but just the social discomfort of talking to your tech in public..it’s either too noisy or feels  weird .. All this talk about Google glasses needing to look good is blown out of proportion..atleast from the press images they look decent….Google needs to give a compelling reason for people to use it…make a product which works solidly and is truly awesome in doing some things perfectly…master few tasks rather than being ok at multiple things…

Till then i'll be looking disapprovingly at my boring normal glasses.

-SUSHMITA BHANDARI

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HYBRID DISPLAY TECHNOLOG

In the technology rat race, there have always been two types of products, innovative or generic. Generic products usually include products which are manufactured by multiple brands but fulfil same purposes and have same features, On the other hand innovators spearhead latest technological trends in markets building basis for more efficient and user friendly products.
 

One such brand Samsung has always been known for their head on approach for providing clearer, brighter, lighter and slender screens. Their latest technological break is by far their most exciting venture. Samsung AMOLED (Active-Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diode) screens when introduced in the market on Samsung phones was one of their most saleable by product. Orders from other leading companies like, Nokia, HTC, paved way for Samsung to think about other possibilities in the segment. After millions of dollars of research the Samsung screen division in the las vegas consumer electric show proudly revealed their latest invention bendable screens. The concept with normal old screens was to treat them on glass, however bendable screens are plastic sheets treated with chemicals and can therefore provide a complete not 90° but a complete 180° angle, another terms bendable screens.

This latest invention can help in providing a conglomerate of products, from phones that have in breakable screens to tablets that can easily fold and fit into pockets or bags without the fear of getting damaged or breaking. It can also help in other product production' bendable wrist watches, television screens etc. The product is still in its initial stages, but one should not forget the possibilities that one product can yield and propel Samsung into the no 1 brand in electronics.Till the new screens are released Samsung might have already created a prototype for their next big invention. First visuals of their prototype have created interest from all companies. Technology like this will only help create better products, higher quality.

Muzyna Naqeeb 

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App-ocalypse

For hours all she does is stare into her phone engrossed. Is she texting? Is she calling? No. She most probably is checking the stock market. With her app Fatima checks the stock market from the comfort of her phone. She is the end user of some 30 apps available in the market from some telling you how much water to drink in a day to south Indian recipes. Application markets provide a plethora of apps from which users can choose.

Applications, more popularly known as apps, have made a huge impact on the mobile phone/ tablet market. Apps of the month are a common site now in not only several technology magazines but also entertainment magazines. Google, Samsung, Apple you name it, all the big names are battling it out in the app market. Each company is trying to get their hand on the next big app sensation. Millions of downloads and celebrity loyalties drive the popularity of the app market. In recent times we have seen apps make cameos in the entertainment industry with angry birds coming out with a movie.

Even though apps may seem fairly harmless they could be linked to your phone not functioning to its optimum. Just like when using your personal computer, your mobile phone/ tablet, are also exposed to certain risks. Viruses and spyware can enter your mobile phone through a virtual back door resulting to your phone/tablet malfunctioning. This can be in the form of Trojans or malware and are fairly hard to detect with an untrained eye. A seemingly innocent app could be the reason your phone is failing to open, hanging or stalling.

 Since apps are usually designed freelance they tend to lack authentication. Checking reviews before downloading apps either consumer or website ones are a good way to steer clear of any suspicious technology. Once an app is downloaded if you feel like there is any kind of glitches after downloading it is better to uninstall the respective app. Though sometimes the damage is already done as the virus or spyware has already entered the handset.

By Madeeha naqeeb

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Cartwheel to Cayenne

Humans have possessed knowledge of the wheel for several thousand years and carts have been mentioned in literature as far back as the second millennium B.C. In some sense, the earliest fore runners of the car date back to the earliest mists of our pre history. The wagon existed in its animal-drawn form for thousands of years before it was possible to make it self-propelled, literally an "auto-mobile."

Ironically, this ‘technological toy’ was invented by a Flemish missionary named Ferdinand Verbiest as a toy for the Chinese emperor. Considering this is over 200 years before the construction of what's generally considered the first modern automobile, this was a remarkable achievement, yet we are not sure if this was an actual invention or a figment of Verbiest’s own imagination. What we can be assured of is this- Although Steam technology was still in its infancy at the time, Verbiest’s rudimentary, ball-shaped boiler, which then forced steam towards a turbine that could turn the back wheels, was effectively one of the earliest scale models of an automobile. 

At the end of the seventeenth century, existing vehicular technology was more than adequate to meet the demands of society. In the age of absolute monarchs, it was more important to solve other engineering challenges that were difficult or impossible to achieve with conventional energy sources. While no one was really tackling this subject directly, the legendary Dutch scientist Christian Huygens did take a crucial step towards the car in 1673, one year after Verbiest reputedly began work on his ‘technological’ toy for the emperor of China. The 1700’s were dominated by various inventors trying to perfect the steam engine.


From Karl Benz’s automobile production being the first in the 18th century to the 20th century where the automobile industry started spreading its wings in various parts of the world, cars have certainly evolved in terms of technological advancement. Ranging from Vintage cars to Classics such as the Ford V-8, Rolls Royce Phantom, to the SUV’s and the latest luxury ones like the Mercerdes or the Cayenne, (a five seat mid size luxury crossover), this toy has been played around with fantastically.
We could thank the Frenchmen crashing into walls, Dutchmen building engines out of gunpowder, or Brits crowding themselves onto noisy, supremely dangerous steam buses. It’s because of their interest in ‘toying’ around with technology that the simple Cart wheel has indeed become a modern marvel today.

Prerna Vazir

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BEST ANDROID APPS FOR HOUSEWIVES.

BEST ANDROID APPS FOR HOUSEWIVES.

Gone is the time when Kitty parties and Shopping were the only means of passing time or things housewives used to do to get a break from their daily household chorus. But Android phones with its extremely innovative technology and app store has come up with amazing apps for all age groups for almost all activities. One can use these apps in their spare time, manage multiple tasks, and learn new things and much more. It has helped in growing contacts and provided a platform to enhance a person’s creative ability. It has made learning so easy that today everyone can learn everything. It has no barriers. All you need is an android phone with a data package. All the apps I am mentioning are free on play store (market for android apps).

So what are the apps housewives can use in their spare time? I have listed only a few apps but there are lot more apps one could use depending on their area of interest.

Housewives who like reading books and cannot go to the library or book store every time. Here is a perfect app for you.   

ALDIKO BOOK READER:

It is one of the best eBook Reader. It supports eBooks from public libraries. It provides for a fully customizable reading experience. You can adjust the font size, font type, background colours, margin, alignment, as well as brightness to best suit your preference. You can create your own bookmarks anywhere in the book. It includes both paid and free books on different genres like fictional and non fictional books. Also it provides a customized library where in you can store books you are reading or you want to read.

Do you love cooking? Unable to go to cooking classes? Now you can learn new recipes right from your phone.

RECIPE SEARCH:

It is one of the best apps to learn and share recipes. It provides you complete recipe directions, ingredients and reviews. There are tons of recipe categories including main dishes, appetizers, drinks, side dishes, desserts, ethnic recipes, soups, stews and diet recipes. You can scan through the recipes by saying the ingredients you have and discover great recipes! You can even upload your recipe pictures and get instant feedback from the community. If you have queries you are free to ask questions and someone will reply within minutes. You can even save your shopping list when you later do the grocery shopping.

Want to experiment with your look? Learn and try different hairstyles for all occasions with this app!

GUIDE TO FABULOUS HAIRSTYLES:

It has more than 300 videos with tips on hair care and hairstyle. You will find hairstyles for all occasions on this app. The hairstyles are taught through videos. The only thing that is annoying about the app is the advertisements that occur in your notification bar. Apart from that if you are keen on learning new hairstyles it’s the best app for you.

Watching T.V is one thing anyone does in his/ her spare time. But what if there is a power cut for long hours and you don’t want to miss your favourite show. One option is watch it on your laptop with an internet connection. But what if some of the housewives don’t know how to operate it? Here’s the answer to this. Just download nexGTv (in Indian context) on your android mobile phone.

NexGTv:

It is a Mobile TV application with best of the Indian channels, replay TV and video on demand content. NexGTv Mobile TV is one of the best applications which offer a compelling end-user experience to view Live TV on mobile devices. It is easiest and quickest way to have access to over 100 Live Indian TV channels. Now you can watch your favourite show anywhere and everywhere but make sure you are within a network area.

-SHRADHA JAIN

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Intricate Details of Business Reporting

“Business journalism is a very challenging field and at the same time a boring field” says Bhramachari, Business Desk Head, HMTV. He gives us a look into the details of the field.

What are the challenges one faces while reporting business news?

When I started my career in 1991, academic reform had just begun. Business was new to vernacular press. There were no senior people in the field of Business Journalism. Harshad Mehta Scam, in 1992, was the first scam in the business world. After this, the specialisation of Business Journalism came. Andhra Jyothi came up with business magazine. Academic reform brought boom in stock market. I learnt Business Journalism as I was interested in this field. But now it has become easy. It’s similar to the job of a CA. We report profitability - profit acquired by companies; press conferences and events in companies; stock market activities, and we get it from our sources. But a person who has joined newly might face problems, as there are many jargons in this field and the reporter must know them all, or else he/she might sound like a fool.

What are the do’s and don’ts of Business Journalism?

When a reporter goes out to any event or press conference he/she must have background information of what the conference is about. He/she must learn all the jargons and listen to the details mentioned carefully so that they don’t end up asking any unrelated doubts. Communication skills has a very menial role to play here; what matters is knowledge and presence of mind.

What kind of news does HMTV focus on?

We majorly focus on stock market, as investment community in Andhra Pradesh is very high. We get calls from the prospective investors. We listen to their queries and respond accordingly. We report budget, RBI policies and joint ventures in companies.

What is the importance of Business Desk?

Business Desk as a genre itself is very important. That’s the reason we have newspapers that are specially made for business like Business Line etc. Personal finances, economy, investment, gold and house loans, tax planning, retirement planning are all reported in business bulletins.

How do you keep HMTV bulletin different from other news channels?

We give more fundamental data like information on companies, their profit, their turnovers and technical data like stock market.

What problems will a fresher who wants to join Business Desk face?

As Business Desk is viewed only by niche people, there are only few bulletins. Due to this, requirement for business reporter is very less. They might face a problem while looking for a job. And at the learning stage, as I mentioned earlier, they will face problems while learning and understanding jargons.

--Post by Pratima Shantaveeresh

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BUSINESS GRAPHS

The Great Recession, the Economic Recession or the global recession of 2009, was a noticeable global economic decline that began in December 2007 and took a quick downward turn in September 2008. As more and more countries got affected by the recession, one significant aspect that emerged in the media scene was that more and more people started showing interest in business news. An increasing number of people grew concerned about the stock exchange rise and fall, markets, companies, profit and loss and so on. However, an interesting development at least the Indian print media started showing was the use of more graphical representations which it continues to do even to this day. Earlier, only articles were published with no graphs. The statistics were all given and said in the article itself, for example, the Indian markets made 6 crore rupees in 2005, 8 crore in 2006 and so on. This obviously lead to the news and of course the page to look absolutely dull, drab and even colorless. Not many people, except maybe some businessmen, really showed interest in business affairs until the great recession hit them. So the print media came up with a welcome change in all financial newspapers and business pages, that is, the use of graphs such as pie charts, bar graphs, XY charts, rubber-band scales, bullet graphs, and so on which are just the many ways of giving statistical information. One advantage of these graphs is that they are easier to understand and add a better look to a dull black and white page. They can convey more by just looking at them, enhance the presentation of results, and provide a better visual dimension. Also, technology has enabled the use of such graphs with ease. Like how photographs are to other news and feature items, graphs are equally important to business and statistical information. After all, many people feel business is the best place to depict such graphs. “When mathematicians and statisticians have developed such graphs for ease of understanding information, and when the electronic media all takes help of such graphs, then why should the print media not do it?” feels Ajay Modi, a businessman, who regularly keeps himself updated with the latest business trends.

However, graphs do not always get the credit they deserve in the business world. Often, they are seen as silly visual aids and unimportant. But, the value of the use of graphs in business can truly be seen when one has to gather a little piece of information by studying several pages of company reports. The ease with which a single graph can tell the whole story is undeniable. However, a challenge for a business news editor is to represent the appropriate graph based on the story and of course publish it correctly, as there have been several cases where print media has gone terribly wrong with giving information through graphs. Therefore, the right graphical representation can definitely mean a lot to any graphic designer, reporter, editor, the publication and of course, the readers.

Written by Yusra 

Edited by Prerna 

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Bollywood 100 crore club

BOLLYWOOD’S 100 CRORE CLUB:

The latest trend of Bollywood measurement of success is earning 100crore or more at the box office. The 100crore club is not an actual organisation but a term used by the film industry to segregate the more successful stars from the rest, only those actors whose films net profit is worth Rs.100crore or more are members of this club.

The trend of 100crores business at box office was started by Aamir khan, the first member of the club who crossed the barrier of 100crores with his movie “Ghajini” and his return in “3 Idiots” not only crossed 100crore but hit a double century.

The next Khan of Bollywood who entered the club was Salman Khan who smashed a century with “Ek Tha Tiger” in just 5-6 days; “Bodyguard” crossed 100crores in just 7 days and the recent hit “Dabaang 2” made a mark of Rs.143crores.

The next 3 entrants into the coveted club was Shah Rukh Khan with hits like “My Name Is Khan” and “Ra.One”. Ajay Devgan’s movie “Golmaal 3” in 2010 just managed to cross the threshold figure of Rs.108crores and Hrithik Roshan’s movie “Agneepath” managed to earn 122crores.

The membership in the club comes automatically if the film does a 100crore business or more. The membership is not counted on the strength of a film overseas success. These films are based on net collections not gross. Net collection is total box office collection that is – gross collection minus the entertainment tax.

The film which touches 100crore mark, the star of the film gets the membership not the director or others. In a way these stars become famous and are worshipped by the industry. Gone are the days of silver jubilees and golden jubilees which measured the success or failure of a film. Today, the fate of a film is sealed on the opening day itself or at best, on the first week. The biggest of films have a run of only three to four weeks at the theatres as more and more new releases knock at the door and eventually push the incumbent out. At this rate, 2013 should have many more films and many more actors inhabiting this club which is fast losing its exclusivity.

In an increasingly competitive film business, it is left to be seen how many films truly qualify as “100-crore” successes in the years to come Since, most big budget films today easily make 100crores; it’s time to break records set by Aamir khan in his 3 Idiots which crossed 200crores. It would be interesting to see the new members of the club in the years to come and set a benchmark in the industry. 

SWETHA BHANSALI(edited by Shradha Jain)

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YOUNG INVESTORS!!

YOUNG INVESTORS!!

‘I am a better investor because I am a businessman and a better businessman because I am an investor’- WARREN BUFFET

Today we see more and more young people who have turned up as young entrepreneurs and have established themselves at a very young age. Also a tendency of “fast money making” has been seen in them. They have become more money-minded. Young students after finishing their high school are looking for part time jobs or businesses along with their education going on side by side. One such business the youth is entering into is the “stock market business”. Akshay Jain (18), a B.Com II Year student, and a stock market investor shares his experience as to what made him opt for the stock market business as his career option.

What inspired you to move into the stock market business at such a young age?

To be frank I am a very money minded guy. I wanted to make a lot of money in less time. In the very first year of my degree I was keen on entering the stock market business. Despite the risks involved in the business, it was something I felt I could do and gave me satisfaction.

                                             
                                                How did you gain knowledge about the stock market?     

Initially there were a lot of things I had to learn about the market. My father is also a part time investor of the stock market. He gave me a fair understanding as to how the market functions and then I used to talk to people who were into the business and learn things from them. I watched more of stock market news and studied a few things from the net.

How do you select a company for investment in the stock market?

Selection of the company is the most crucial stage of this business. I swot up a lot about the company I plan to choose for investing. I look at aspects like the background of the company, its position in the market, its financial position, financial surveys, the fundamentals and technical aspects of the company, present and future projects of the company and also the management. I also listen to opinions of the experts, and all the news related to the company.

How do you manage studies and stock market business?

Stock market business is not very time consuming. I get all the updates online.  So I get a fair amount of time for my studies too.

How did your parents react to your decision of entering into the stock market business?

My father was not very happy with my decision. He said that the market is very unpredictable and involves a lot of risk. He told me to do some other business and take up stock market as a side business. But I was very serious about the stock market business. So we made a deal. He has given me a time limit to prove myself if I am capable of doing it, otherwise I shall have to switch over to some other business option which I have agreed upon.

Why do you prefer the stock market business over other businesses?

People say that stock market is very unpredictable, requires luck and includes risk. I think these three factors are a part of any business you undertake. Without taking risk you can never know if your business will run successfully or not. If you plan properly and have the right strategies in your mind you may fairly predict the future. And as far as luck is concerned, I do believe in luck. But I feel right decision making is utmost important in any business.  

  
 SHRADHA JAIN.

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Numaish ki Nawazish

Numaish, an industrial exhibition held up for almost 46 days and
homing around 2000 stalls is the pride of Hyderabad city . Standing older than our own  country’s  independence, Numaish now  had its successful 74th year.  Numaish is  considered one of the biggest such events in the country for the promotion of trade and commerce . With all the colours and taste inside one boundary it stands out to be a perfect example of a successful free market business.  The exhibition does not only  ground for big traders but  small vendors of toys and flowers makes a decent business during the fare.

As a broad estimation over 20,000 people attend the Numaish
everyday
with banking Rs. 20/- per ticket. From Kashmir to Kerala, from lucknow to calcutta there are stalls varying from crockery to garments from furnituring eatery. Forever famous Kashmiri dry fruits, gemstone jewellery, wooden carving furnitures and woollens have marked their increase in business every year. Lucknow crochet works, Agra ka petha and Delhi  food stalls, Pista house haleem has fixed their greater parts of business through the Numaish. India proves its friendly relations with its neighbours by having a sole Pakistani cloth store as well.

Besides all these rented stalls who pay thousands for the fare time,
roadside vendors enjoy the fare the most. Outside the Numaish gates is another Numaish of all the unauthorised entrepreneur’s who shall stop the visitor and force to make one purchase to their handbags, socks, toys, popcorns and all the little but every possible item . Parachutes and flashlights are the most attractive products dragging every kid to buy one. Behind all the glossy world around the numaish never to forget the best business time is for the auto wala who almost forget to run their meters, Never. Its them who run business without pure bargaining. Its always the double or the triple of the actual auto fare.

So, under the name of the industrial commerce exhibition small
vendors, young entrepreneurs and auto walas make a bountiful business from the month of January till mid February.

written by-Maria Nisa

edited by- Yusra Hussain

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Carved My Own Way

CARVED MY OWN WAY

To a new beginning…

“Age is just a number” goes a famous saying. A lot of young entrepreneurs have been an
example of this saying as they turn their passion into a business at an early age. At the age of 17-
18 when teenagers usually party hard, have fun in their lives and do a lot of other stuff that is
related to entertainment their also are people who work hard. When talk about young business personnel never to forget the great Mark zuckerberg, founder of Facebook,  who gave a new face to the social networking world at the age of 18, and now is the youngest businessman and ranked top in the Forbes list.  These are the ones who starts early and mark a place in the business world as fresh young minds.

Living their dream is not the only motto of these entrepreneurs but they also make it a means to
earn their livelihood out of it and contribute their share to the Indian economy. “In 2010 I was a
fresh pass out with a B.TECH degree and was offered a well paid job, but that was not something
that I was looking forward to. I wanted to do something in which my passion was. Hence I got
together with a group of like minded friends and we started our own ad agency and today are
happy and satisfied with our choices.” says Ranjith Kumar the director of Vinoothna Geetha
Media Pvt Ltd.

Rohan Gaggar who owns a restaurant says, “Working with my Father was how I entered in
the business world but later I realized that my passion lies in cooking, something that I have
loved since childhood. I took a step further and converted my passion into a profitable business
venture.” “Music is the field where my passion lies that’s why I am into artist management.
This makes me happy and also gets in good bucks.” speaks Pratik Tilwani a well known Artist
Manager in the city.

Muzayna Naqeeb a student of St. Francis quotes, “Anything related to beauty is where my
passion lies and this is what made me come up with a blog as a way of interacting with people
across the world sharing the same interest. This passion slowly changed into a profession when
I was approached by companies to write for beauty content or to review their products and now
with the help of advertisements I manage to earn money from home.”

In conclusion, when passion is converted to business it results in satisfaction and changes one’s
whole out look to the idea of work. This not only gives the owner of the venture pleasure in
working but provides them with an open platform to connect with the whole wide world.

Prerna Vazir

113614

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Facebook: The Communication Tool in the Mini Business World

First came barter system, where goods or services were exchanged for goods or services; then, it all came down to business – where goods or services were exchanged for money. Business as we know it is a commercial occupation that brings out the energy and rings in the profit, but for this to happen, there is need for transmission or exchange of information, thoughts and messages. I found it interesting to observe how this need for communication is being addressed by a few simple clicks, in the businesses with lesser capital, personnel, office space, or as I simply call them the ‘mini businesses’.

Consider this, first existed the ‘word of mouth’ – X baked cakes, her neighbours knew, they then told the others and soon she had customers at her doorstep. It was followed by the ‘print’ – pamphlets, flyers, newspapers … X was featured in an article that read about how she baked cakes with additional details like her phone number and e-mail. But then, just as Mark Zuckerberg and a few others became billionaires by creating a social networking platform from within a four walled dormitory room, today, X sits within her house, networking world over and cashing in on her talent. Pretty cool huh?! Facebook has become her most valuable tool for communication.

So what makes Facebook a valuable communication tool in the world of mini businesses?

I visited randomly many pages that feature for sale, accessories, clothing and apparel, tattoo art, mehendi art and so on ... and I found that all of them posted appealing photos, smart comments and information concerning price and delivery details — remaining in constant touch or being up-to-date with customers, both prospective and present. So I figured: first, Facebook fulfills the need for viral audio and visual marketing; second, it allows for the producer, the seller, the advertiser/marketer, the public relation officer to be one person; third, it offers the perfect platform for a wide range of target audience – because as we know it – old, young, teens, adults, just about everyone has access to Facebook; and fourth, it helps save advertising/marketing costs (okay yeah, we are paying for the internet, but it is minimal).

Alekhya Rao, a working professional and owner of part-time business Tejal Koustha Collections gave me the user’s point of view.

What is your business?

“Currently we are dealing with Saris - casual and designer wear. We do not have any readily made-up saris; it's always, make to order - from the price to the colours, we leave the choice to the customers.”

Where are you located?

“We are home-based in Hyderabad and as our marketing tool is online i.e., social media marketing, we would proudly say that we are spread universally.”

Why Facebook?

“We aspire to grow further and then diversify. Facebook is the most happening site among the others. We get the clientele that we want. There is no much effort needed to put information on Facebook. The target market is easily approachable and there is a mixed variety of people — so while our collections are mainly for college-going students who can buy a heavily worked niche designer sari within their pocket-money, even a brother or a husband can become the customer for gifting purposes.”

So whether it is baking, caking, writing, speaking, painting, drawing … if you understand the basics of agreements, want to make money from your talent and need for the world to know, then go start at Facebook – a valuable communication tool that can be the ‘big break for the small business’.

** Image from Google Images.

--Post by Angela N

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