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4 Reasons to Visit Penang on Your Next Holiday

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Everyone needs a break every now and then. However, not everyone has the luxury of time and money to have a vacation somewhere far away and exotic. Thankfully, Malaysia has its own jewels that can give you the rest and relaxation you deserve without you breaking the bank and needing to take a long time off from work. One of these places is the state of Penang, located on the northwest coast of peninsular Malaysia.

Some local tourists would probably gloss over this part of the country, but Penang is definitely a must-visit. Here are a few reasons to convince yourself to go on a Penang tour instead of visiting Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, or other popular Malaysian destinations.

It’s a Haven for Foodies

Tourists and even media outfits all over the world agree: Penang is one of the best food destinations not just in Malaysia but also around the globe. With influences from Chinese, Indian, and Malay cuisines, among many others, Penang has a lot to offer to food lovers. From char kway teow, white curry mee, and Assam laksa to muah chi and tau sar piah, you can spend an entire day touring the streets of Penang to sample all the flavours it offers. What’s even better is that the food here is so affordable. You can find delicious treats for as low as 5 ringgit! Make sure to visit Line Clear Restaurant in George Town and order their nasi kandar. It’s arguably the best version of the dish in Penang.

It’s Full of Gorgeous Art

If you love art, you’ll love Penang. In particular, you’ll love that almost every corner in George Town has urban street art created by both local and international artists. These larger-than-life masterpieces depict slices of life in Penang and involve not just paint and the walls but also real-life objects like bicycles and swing sets. If you want to see them all, you can easily find a map online and then trace their locations on foot. Penang is quite a walkable place, and you’ll surely love the sights and sounds as you search for every work of art on the map.

Aside from street art, Penang is also full of amazing architecture. You’ll see colonial buildings, intricate Chinese and Indian temples, and old-fashioned shops like they’ve been stuck in time. There are also some Malay villages in Penang, where you can marvel at their traditional “kampung” style of construction. Some of the best places to see marvelous architecture include George Town, the Snake Temple, Fort Cornwallis, the Thaipusam roads, and various local landmarks like the clock tower in the city square.

Its Heritage is Unique

Malaysia is a product of multiple cultures, but nowhere is this more evident than in George Town. Penang’s capital is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its streets full of beautiful structures influenced by Malay, British, Chinese styles. Visit Harmony Street and you’ll even find churches, mosques, and temples within steps of each other. In addition, many of these historical, well-preserved structures are still in use, whether for their original purpose or otherwise.

Another beautiful thing about Penang is that it’s multicultural down to every member of the society. Because of its strategic location, it was an important midpoint for trade in the olden days. Thus, mixed marriage became commonplace and the descendants of those marriages now populate the colourful streets. You’ll find a lot of unique groups in Penang, like the Arab-Chinese and the northern Peranakan. This multiraciality is also evident in religion. In fact, Penang is home to the only Jewish cemetery in Malaysia.

It Has Its Own Share of Natural Wonders

Penang is partly an island state, which means it has its own beautiful beaches like Batu Ferringhi, Tanjung Bungah, and Gertak Sanggul. Aside from beaches for swimming and water sports, there are also various nature hotspots like Penang Hill. Here you can enjoy cool, fresh air, walk under the canopy of towering trees, and enjoy the beautiful views of the city below. There are also plenty of destinations in Penang where you can have fun and enjoy nature at the same time, like Escape Park, Penang National Park, Teluk Bahang, Balik Pulau, and more.

Penang has everything going for it: great food, colourful history and culture, natural treasures, and great people. There’s a lot to see and do in such a small place, but the happy and “chill” vibe means you won’t feel rushed to explore everything at once. Consider a Penang tour for your next holiday. Visiting the so-called “Pearl of the Orient” might just be the kind of fulfilling vacation you’re looking for.

 

These Online Advertising Strategies Are Counterproductive

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When you advertise online, you hope that the effort will go a long way. You expect that people will see your ads and eventually decide to buy your products. Unfortunately, you might end up implementing a strategy that doesn’t work at all. These are obsolete advertising techniques that will only hurt your chances of reaching a lot of people.

Overstuffing keywords

You might think that you’re going to optimize the keywords by overstuffing them. The truth is that search engines like Google already know your plan. Hence, instead of promoting your page, it could end up getting penalized. Your site will get pushed to the last pages of search engine results due to irrelevance. You optimize the keywords so that when people type them, they can find what they want. Imagine if you were typing a keyword and you got a link filled with unnaturally used keywords that have nothing to do with what you’re searching for. It would be utterly disappointing.

Leaving generic comments

It also helps to leave comments on various sites and somehow find a way to attach the links to your site. For instance, if there’s a forum on a specific topic, you can leave a response and copy the link to your site. However, it needs to be relevant to the discussion. Copying and pasting the same comments for the sake of enhancing visibility isn’t going to help. Moderators of these sites and blogs might even ban your account due to an irrelevant and useless comment.

Sending the same email

Mass email marketing used to be a gold standard in SEO. Companies were dying to get the email addresses of potential customers. The problem is that it’s no longer useful. Mails sent in mass end up in the spam or junk folders of the recipients. If not, they end up getting deleted quickly. No one wants to read these emails anymore. People associate them with scammers and unworthy sites. You don’t want people to view your business in that light.

Buying sites

You might also want to buy sites that already have a built-in set of followers. You think that you can use the site’s popularity to your advantage. You also want to cut the line to success by purchasing the links. The truth is that your site could lose its potential followers if people realize that it’s not worth it. They will also notice that it doesn’t have the same content as the same site that they used to follow.

You need help

Figuring out the strategies that work could take a lot of time. You will stress out about SEO strategies when it’s only a small portion of the tasks you have to accomplish as a business owner. Therefore, you need help from experts. Check out Miami SEO if you want to outsource the service. You can simply wait for the results and updates on the progress of the marketing campaign.

Hopefully, you see the desired results and reach an unparalleled level of success online.

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/LUgHXvLe_kM

 

The Benefits of Water Filtration – Drinking Safe Clean Water

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Drinking filtered water has been proven to be safer as it protects our body from consuming bacterial contaminants that can harm our health. There are many reasons as to why you must opt to drink filtered water than drinking a pure one straight off of your faucet at home.

It is recommended to use a water filtration system at home to make sure that the water your family consumes everyday is safe and healthy for the body.

That’s why we have listed down the following benefits of using a water filter that you must be aware of:

1. Filtered water is safe from chlorine

Drinking filtered water is safer because harmful chemicals such as chlorine were already removed. Why should you actively avoid drinking water which contains chlorine? Medical studies conducted by the US Council of have shown that individuals who drink tap water are 93 times more likely to develop cancer than individuals who aren’t exposed to water which contains chlorine.

2. Water filters remove harmful heavy metals

During the filtration process, heavy metals such as copper, lead, arsenic, and mercury– metals that are commonly found in tap water are removed by the help of water filtration.

3. Filtered water can help to have a younger skin

Believe it or not but drinking filtered water can lead to a more youthful and glowing appearance. Chlorine in water is the number 1 cause of dry skin and dull hair, thus using filtered water can be a big help if you want to achieve a younger looking skin and appearance.

4. Using water filter is a cheaper option than bottled water

Purchasing a water filter might appear like it’s more expensive than buying bottled water but in the long run, you will see that your expenses will be lesser in using a water filter than buying bottled water daily.

5. You’ll start to feel more energetic instead of constantly feeling sluggish

Drinking healthy water will help you have enough energy to survive the day. A person should drink at least 8 bottles of water a day to keep the body hydrated. It is advised to exercise this habit daily. Who knows, you might start to prefer a tall glass of water than drinking coffee.

6. Filtered water tastes better than tap water

Using a water filter provides a better tasting and better smelling water than tap water. If you’re picky in drinking water, it’s best to have a water filtration at home.

7. Water filter provides clean water for other uses

You can use healthy safe filtered water in your smoothies and hot drinks such as tea and coffee, and in cooking as well.

Hopefully, you’re now well aware of some of the major benefits which are associated with drinking filtered water instead of tap water or bottled water!

 

Five Ways to Make People Want to Buy Your Home

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Every realtor who decides to sell a property would like to find the right buyer in the soonest time possible. In some cases, it can take some time to close the deal. You do not want this to happen to you; the sooner you make that sale, the better. However, the big question is, what can you do to make people fall in love with the property? The answer to your question is to make sure that you create a lasting first impression.

Homebuyers, in general, are looking for a piece of property that stands out from the rest. They want to see a specific trait that would make them say yes. As a seller, you want to have a smooth and fast transaction. That is why there are things that you need to do to make sure that the property gets sold as soon as possible at the highest price.

Make the property look attractive

Boosting the curb appeal of your property is one of the first things that should be done when selling your home. If you have a full front yard and a garden, make it a point to start trimming the grass and getting rid of the weeds. To further boost its appeal, you can add some colorful flowers and outdoor chairs and tables.

Do something about the interior

Try rearranging some of your furniture to make the place more spacious. Change the color of your curtains to a lighter shade to give your living room a more welcoming atmosphere. Do not forget to remove personal items like family photos, trophies, college diplomas, etc. when staging the house. You want people to be able to visualize the entire place as theirs and having your personal mementos around is not going to make them decide to buy the house.

Improve the look of your kitchen

There are many buyers, especially married women, who are very particular about how their kitchen should look. You don’t need to splurge to make your kitchen look impressive. You can paint and repair some of the damaged cabinets, change the lighting to LED bulbs, apply fresh grout to your kitchen sink. If you have the extra finances, you can work on replacing the tiles and backsplash for a more impressive look.

Repaint the walls and ceilings

If you are financially constrained, you can spruce up your entire house by spending less than $200. Painting the walls and ceilings with neutral colors will help hide flaws and make the house look updated. All you need is to make an extra effort to do a paint job to transform the place.

Lastly, make it a point to get rid of all the clutter that you have. Check out junk removal Delray Beach companies to help you clean up old stuff in the basement and attic. When showing potential buyers around, you want them to see a clean and presentable looking home where they can see themselves as the owner.

To read more on topics like this, check out the house category.

Gadget Safety 101 – 4 Simple Tips to Keep in Mind

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Electronic devices such as tablets and laptop computers have become commonplace in daily life today, and for a good reason: not only do we use them for entertainment purposes, but many of us also rely on these tools for communication and work-related functions too. And because of this fact, it’s crucial to maintain them properly and ensure that they remain in good working condition. They aren’t exactly cheap, after all. To this end, here a few simple tips that should improve the safety and longevity of your gadgets.

  1. Purchase the right cover for your device

While it may sound like additional expenditure that many of us would rather be without, purchasing the right protection for your gadget is crucial in ensuring its safety. From a heavy-duty case for your smartphone to tempered glass to keep the screen of your tablet safe from scratches and cracks, a small investment now in protective accessories can potentially save you a lot of money on repair services or replacements later on if the need arises.

  1. Always ensure that the gadget is well-optimised

One of the reasons why many electronic devices tend to slow down after a while is because users tend to forget to optimise them. And while it may sound tedious to close any applications that aren’t being used and utilise their built-in software for memory management every so often, it will allow the gadget to function as it was originally intended. Best of all, the device is bound to run faster as a result.

  1. Increase its security

A lot of people talk about malicious software like viruses in a blasé way, but they are genuine threats that will not only make it harder to use your device but can even render it completely unusable too. As such, it makes sense to acquire additional security software if needed to protect the gadget from these types of attacks.

But keep in mind that research is crucial when searching for good anti-virus software. And time spent in carefully considering all available options can give invaluable insight as to which application to opt for.

  1. Don’t forget about insurance

Regardless of all precautions taken for the safety of the device, it’s impossible to mitigate the likelihood of damage or loss entirely. And because of this, it’s essential to secure insurance for your gadget. After all, most electronic devices aren’t exactly cheap. And acquiring the right coverage for your device through sites like ucompare.ie can considerably lower the costs of any repairs as well as replacement if or when the need arises.

Our gadgets and electronic devices are a lot more important in our daily lives than some might give them credit for. As such, it makes sense to take all necessary measures to ensure that they remain safe and secure. And by keeping the tips listed above in mind, not only will you increase the longevity of the device, but it is bound to function well too.

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/tablet-digital-technology-device-791050/

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The Most Popular Beach Destinations Around The World

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Whether you prefer visiting established tourist destinations in locales such as Hawaii and Australia or you’d prefer to get off the beaten tourist track and party on a beach in Goa, India, continue reading to discover some of the most popular beach destinations that are worth finding cheap flights for in order to visit.

The Most Popular Beach Destinations Around The World:

1. Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

Waikiki Beach features white sand, turquoise blue water, luxurious oceanfront hotels and resorts and restaurants and bars which feature million dollar views. Whether you’d prefer to relax on a beach chair and sip on a Mai Tai or you’re keen to book a surfing lesson, you’ll be sure to have the time of your life, if you choose to visit Waikiki Beach.

If you’re tempted to plan a trip of a lifetime to Waikiki Beach, you may also be interested in attending an evening luau where you’ll get to sample traditional Hawaiian food and watch Polynesian performances. As an example expect to be wowed by watching a fire dancer twirl a fire baton around and to be entranced by a traditional Hawaiian hula.

Alternatively, for a unique experience, which you’ll never forget you can even learn how to surf on an outrigger canoe, which is a lot of fun!

2. South Beach Miami

South Beach which is located in Miami is famous for its bustling nightlife and is a calm, swimmable beach which is lined with a multitude of cafes, restaurants, and bars. If you’re looking for a picturesque beach to swim in during the day and which you can party around at night, it’s well worth planning a beach getaway to Miami.

3. Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

Bondi Beach is a famous crescent-shaped surf beach which is located in Australia’s most populous city Sydney. Each year a staggering 2.6 million visitors flock to Bondi Beach in order to sunbath, swim or surf. Bondi Beach is a popular destination for international surfers due to its favorable surfing conditions and its reliable waves.

If you visit Bondi Beach, it’s well worth booking a surf lesson and enjoying a cafe lunch at one of the many cafes which overlook Bondi Beach before enjoying a gelato from one of Bondi Beach’s luxury Italian gelato boutiques.

4. Blue Bay, Mauritius

Blue Bay which is an idyllic tranquil beach in Mauritius, which is located off the coast of East Africa, is the perfect location for snorkellers as you’ll be able to swim amongst schools of brightly colored parrotfish. Better yet as Blue Bay is sprawled out across 872 acres, you won’t have any trouble finding a spare spot of sand to sunbathe on.

If you’re looking for a luxurious destination for a romantic getaway you can’t go wrong visiting Blue Bay in Mauritius, which also features two luxurious oceanfront resorts the Shandrani Beachcomber Resort and Spa and the Blue Lagoon Beach Hotel, both of which boast private access to different parts of Blue Bay’s beach. If you need further convincing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge William and Catherine frequently vacation in Mauritius and celebrated their honeymoon in Mauritius.

5. Corniche Beach, France

Corniche Beach is one of the most popular beaches in France and features a massive sand dune which is 357 feet high and 1640 feet long and is the biggest sand dune in Europe. If you’re up for an adventure, you’ll be able to book a parasailing experience, where you’ll get to parasail straight off the beach’s mega sand dune.

Another reason why you’ll love spending time at Corniche Beach is that it offers remarkable views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as soft, golden sand is the perfect destination for amateur photographers and professional photographers to take stunning pictures.

6. Palolem Beach, Goa, India

Palolem Beach is one of the most visited beaches in Goa, India’s number one seaside resort destination. Palolem Beach draws international tourists and locals alike due to its calm, safe swimming conditions and its bustling nightlife.

During the day, you’ll be able to relax on the beach underneath a palm tree and at night you’ll be able to party the night away at a beach club. For a unique experience, Palolem Beach frequently hosts silent dances, where guests dance to their own music, whilst wearing headphones.

So if your ideal vacation includes swimming, snorkeling and surfing, it’s well worth visiting all six of the stunning beach locales mentioned above.

 

7 Skin Care Tips for Younger Looking Skin

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Aging is a natural process that everyone will eventually undergo. While you can’t choose to stop aging, you can slow down the hands of time and restore your skin’s natural beauty. Below are some of the things you can do in order to keep a younger looking skin.

1. Add foods which are rich in antioxidants to your diet

One way to take care of your skin as you get older is to add foods which are rich in natural antioxidants, such as blueberries, to your diet. Antioxidants prevent free radicals from damaging your skin’s cells and causing premature skin damage.

2. Make sure to work out 5-6 days a week

If you make an effort to work out on a regular basis your blood circulation will remain healthy and blood will be circulated around your body efficiently. Better yet, if blood is well circulated to your skin, it will look youthful and fresh as you age.

3. Hydrate your skin

If you make the effort to drink 8 glasses of water per day and to moisturize your face when you wake up each morning and before you go to sleep each night, your skin will be able to repair cell damage associated with aging. So it’s a great idea to make it a priority to keep your skin hydrated daily. Aside from drinking water, you could also use the best anti aging cream suitable for your skin as it can help to keep your skin well hydrated. Fine lines and wrinkles will decrease in appearance, which in turn will help you look several years younger than your actual age.

4. Always remove your makeup before you go to sleep

In order to let your skin breathe and to give your skin a break from the chemicals found in your makeup, it’s paramount to remove all of your makeup before you go to sleep each night. Even when you’re tired, it’s well worth taking 30 seconds to use gentle makeup wipes to remove your makeup.

5. Avoid smoking

Not only is smoking detrimental to your health, but it is also one of the leading causes of premature aging. So if you don’t want to develop deep-set wrinkles, it’s a great idea to avoid smoking especially as you get older.

6. Wear sunscreen whether its bright and sunny or overcast and raining

As the sun’s UV rays can easily damage your skin, if you want to remain looking radiant and youthful, it’s a great idea to wear sunscreen every single day. Regardless of whether it’s hot and sunny or whether it’s overcast and raining. When it comes to buying a new bottle of sunscreen, make sure to opt for a sunscreen lotion which boasts a high SPF rating.

7. Exfoliate your face at least twice a week

In order to remove dead skin cells from your face and to showcase your natural healthy, glowing skin it’s a smart idea to exfoliate your skin two to three times a week.

If you follow all 7 of the skin care tips listed above, you should have no trouble slowing down the hands of time.

To read more on topics like this, check out the health category.

You Deserve a Relaxing Bath After Several Hours at Work

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You face a lot of problems at work with the people you work with and with the nature of your job. You might even extend a few more hours before heading home to complete the tasks you need to finish. As you reach home, you still need to take care of your kids. You will prepare the meals, clean the house, wash the dishes, and tuck them in. Even though you divide the tasks with your partner, you will still do lots of chores at home.

It helps if you have a routine to help you relax once your work is over. You cannot go to sleep feeling heavy because of everything that you did during the day. You might not even have quality sleep. The next day, you have to face another battle. It becomes a vicious cycle where you usually end up being in trouble.

The best thing to reward yourself is to have regular whirlpool baths. When you do lots of things during the day, you want something to look forward to once the day is over.

Moment of silence

When you are inside the bathroom while dipping your body in a whirlpool bath, it could be the only time when you are alone. Your kids are not there to ask you to do things for them. You are not with your office colleagues who cause stress because they are yet to finish their work. When you are alone, you can finally relax. You can take the chance to think about your day and what you need to do the following day. You might also forget everything while you are bathing. Do not worry about work or your kids. The moment is for you, alone, and no one can tell you what to do.

Relaxing experience

Another reason for purchasing a whirlpool bath is that it relaxes you. The motion of the water in the tub makes you feel like something is trying to massage your back. You do not need to head to a local spa since you already have a spa-like experience at home with the help of a whirlpool bath. Therefore, even if you spend a lot to invest in one, you will still not regret it.

It is okay to be selfish

Do not feel guilty if you spend a lot of money to buy a whirlpool bath. You should also not feel guilty for taking thirty minutes of your time away from everyone else. You deserve to have that moment to yourself. You already gave your entire day to other people, and it is not selfish to ask for a few minutes where you drop everything else to relax.

Besides, when you are not in a good mood, it will affect how you deal with people the next day. It could even affect the quality of your output. You deserve time to relax, so do not let anything take it away from you.

To read more on topics like this, check out the house category.

Effective Marketing Strategies for Trade Shows

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Businesses today participate in trade show exhibits to increase brand recognition and network with other companies in similar or different fields. But trade shows are competitive, and if you want your company to stand out, you need to invest in the right marketing tools and strategies. Advertising and marketing can be done effectively through a variety of mediums, but not all are suitable for a trade show setting. Experts recommend that the following marketing tools are what every trade show exhibitor needs to use.

Market research

Every marketing plan begins by conducting market research. The purpose of this research is to gather information about your company’s target audience. The data collected is used in creating a customer profile which is crucial in choosing which group of people to target during the exhibit.

In addition to gathering information about the target audience, you can also carry out market research to learn about the demographics of the intended audience and expected attendees at the event. Through this process, you can determine whether there will be suppliers, retailers, and customers at the event. This information will give you a better insight into what marketing strategies and tools to use for the exhibit.

Promotional marketing tools

Promoting products and services during a trade show involves making use of a variety of tools such as a display stand, samples, demonstrations, and giveaways. Display stands are considered one of the most effective ways to attract the attention of consumers at a trade show. You can include crucial details about your company products and services and make attendees aware of your brand.

Giveaways are small tokens that you hand out to exhibit attendees. These little keepsakes usually bear the company or brand logo. Some of the most common trade show giveaways used today are stress balls, pens, key chains, and water bottles.

Product demos and samples are useful when used appropriately. By sampling your products or by viewing demonstrations, you can get immediate feedback from attendees and determine how to improve your product or service better.

Marketing through social media

Social media is the latest trend in marketing and using this strategy can result in an immense advantage for your business. If your company already has an active social media presence, you can use it for advertising the event and encouraging followers to attend.

During the event, you can use your company’s social media accounts to run contests and actively promote your booth. Social media is effective in engaging customers and keeps them updated about what is new in your business.

Blogging

Another effective method of promoting a trade show or exhibit is via blog posts. Active followers of your business can read about the trade show and encourage them to attend. Blog posts have the added advantage of providing readers with extensive information about what customers can expect with the upcoming event. Blogging using your company website or posting on third-party sites increases not only visibility but also the company’s chances of being associated with the trade show or event.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

How to Improve Video Calls on Google Hangouts

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Over the years Google Hangouts has steadily improved the quality of its video calls and in most cases they are actually quite good. That being said there are still steps that you should take to ensure your video calls are up to scratch in terms of their quality and overall appearance.

Some of the best ways that you can improve your video calls on Google Hangouts are by:

  • Using a fast and stable internet connection

The quality (read: resolution and frame rate) of the call will depend heavily on the bandwidth and stability of your internet connection. If possible you should free up bandwidth by making sure you aren’t downloading any files (and no one else on your network is).

Ideally you should also plug in your computer to your router using an Ethernet cable. That will make the network connection much more stable than Wi-Fi could ever hope to be.

  • Adjusting the bandwidth setting manually

If you find that your video call on Google Hangouts seems to be lagging or stuck, try adjusting the bandwidth setting in Google Hangouts and lower it. When you do Google will optimize the video call accordingly and may lower its resolution slightly to ensure that it look smooth.

  • Getting a good microphone

If you rely on the built-in microphone on your webcam you can expect the audio quality to not be that great. Instead you should invest in a decent external microphone, as it will make a world of difference.

  • Wearing headphones

As a rule it is best to wear headphones or earphones while you’re making video calls. At times the audio from your speakers may get picked up by your microphone and sent over the call – which will sound like an echo.

By wearing headphones or earphones there isn’t much risk at all of that happening.

  • Improving the lighting

Just like any video the lighting can have a big impact on the quality of your video calls – and you should try to improve it. At a very minimum there should be lots of light but the light source should not be in the frame of the video call. Instead it should be positioned above and behind your display.

If you want to improve it further you should consider using a softbox or some other type of diffused lighting.

Keep in mind that you can record Google Hangout using Movavi Screen Recorder or some other screen recorder. Its features will let you easily set it up to capture the area of the video call, along with its audio. In fact you can even adjust the volume level, frame rate, and other recording parameters.

As you can see improving the quality of Google Hangouts video calls isn’t that difficult. In fact you should be able to see the improvement firsthand with each and every step that you take – and it should translate into video calls that look and sound far better, and have fewer issues overall too.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.