3 Common Electronic Door Locks for Your Home

Having an electronic door lock can be a good way to spare you the hassle of rummaging for keys in your bag or pocket, and it also adds security to your home. Here are 3 of the most common electronic door locks available on the market today.

Image Source: Flickr

Kwikset Kevo
The KwiksetKevo instantly transforms the owner's smartphone into a key. Designed with Bluetooth-connectivity, this smart lock replaces a regular deadbolt on a door. To unlock the door, the user has to touch the Kevo to send an "open" signal. Users acquiring the entry-level version of this smart lock will get two eKeys, two key fobs and two traditional keys. The latter is handy if the Kevo runs out of power. The major feature is the set of eKeys, which are encrypted codes that you can with your smartphone. eKeys offer more peace of mind than traditional keys because they cannot be duplicated. Moreover, eKeys can allow a guest either scheduled or "anytime" access Source: TechTimes

Keyless
For advanced home security and convenience, keyless locks can be used to replace any standard deadbolts on exterior doors. An anti-theft rolling code feature ensures the same code is never used twice, and certain models sound an alarm after the incorrect code is entered more than three consecutive times. Additionally, some systems are compatible with select garage door openers or home security systems. Source: ASecureLife

August Smart Lock
Don't let the name fool you – there are no keys involved. No access codes either, so a thief can't use a key logger to copy your code and then sneak in when you're not home. The August Smart Key lock discretely replaces most single cylinder deadbolts to provide secure access to your home via iOS or Android devices. The August Smart Key lock works independently, via a secure BlueTooth connection or over your home's Wi-Fi. The app sends a reminder if the lock's AA batteries are low so this lock keeps working, even if your power goes out.
Coupling the August Lock with August Connect, a smart device that allows you to access the lock from any Internet-enabled device, provides additional features. Rather than simply referring to a log of activity over the past week, you'll receive real-time notifications of who accessed your lock and when. You'll also be able to lock and unlock the door via any Internet-enabled device and connect your lock with other smart devices in your home. Source: SafeWise

 

Contact:
Mr. Locksmith Calgary
555 Maidstone Drive NE
Calgary, Alberta T2A 4B6
Canada
Phone: (403) 800-9185

The post 3 Common Electronic Door Locks for Your Home appeared first on Mr Locksmith Calgary.

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3 Common Electronic Door Locks for Your Home

Having an electronic door lock can be a good way to spare you the hassle of rummaging for keys in your bag or pocket, and it also adds security to your home. Here are 3 of the most common electronic door locks available on the market today.

Image Source: Flickr

Kwikset Kevo
The KwiksetKevo instantly transforms the owner’s smartphone into a key. Designed with Bluetooth-connectivity, this smart lock replaces a regular deadbolt on a door. To unlock the door, the user has to touch the Kevo to send an “open” signal. Users acquiring the entry-level version of this smart lock will get two eKeys, two key fobs and two traditional keys. The latter is handy if the Kevo runs out of power. The major feature is the set of eKeys, which are encrypted codes that you can with your smartphone. eKeys offer more peace of mind than traditional keys because they cannot be duplicated. Moreover, eKeys can allow a guest either scheduled or “anytime” access Source: TechTimes

Keyless
For advanced home security and convenience, keyless locks can be used to replace any standard deadbolts on exterior doors. An anti-theft rolling code feature ensures the same code is never used twice, and certain models sound an alarm after the incorrect code is entered more than three consecutive times. Additionally, some systems are compatible with select garage door openers or home security systems. Source: ASecureLife

August Smart Lock
Don’t let the name fool you – there are no keys involved. No access codes either, so a thief can’t use a key logger to copy your code and then sneak in when you’re not home. The August Smart Key lock discretely replaces most single cylinder deadbolts to provide secure access to your home via iOS or Android devices. The August Smart Key lock works independently, via a secure BlueTooth connection or over your home’s Wi-Fi. The app sends a reminder if the lock’s AA batteries are low so this lock keeps working, even if your power goes out.
Coupling the August Lock with August Connect, a smart device that allows you to access the lock from any Internet-enabled device, provides additional features. Rather than simply referring to a log of activity over the past week, you’ll receive real-time notifications of who accessed your lock and when. You’ll also be able to lock and unlock the door via any Internet-enabled device and connect your lock with other smart devices in your home. Source: SafeWise

 

Contact:
Mr. Locksmith Calgary
555 Maidstone Drive NE
Calgary, Alberta T2A 4B6
Canada
Phone: (403) 800-9185

The post 3 Common Electronic Door Locks for Your Home appeared first on Mr Locksmith Calgary.

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Brookmere by Onni

The Brookmere by Onni, offers a 28 story tower that will rise above West Coquitlam.  Located at 535 North Road, Coquitlam, right in the heart of the new Burquitlam city centre. Brookmere blends Burnaby's urban vive with the Coquitlam's neighbourhood spirit.

Brookmere offers several amenities as well including a media room, yoga space, meeting room and 3^rd floor outdoor terrace with several garden plots. The media room is a great place to watch movies or the season finale of Game of Thrones.   On the other hand, the yoga space is a great place to exercise in. You can go to the yoga room and carry out yoga to stay fit or you can simply just go there and exercise however you want to.

Another offering of Brookmere is the party room. The party room comes equipped with full kitchen and dining. The full kitchen and dining is offers you an all exclusive access to kitchen appliances. You can easily cook your favorite meals there. On the other hand, the dining is also a great place to go and sit in and have food in. Aside from these amenities, another great offering at the Brookmere is the professional equipped gym. The professional equipped gym allows you to work out the best free of charge. It lets you exercise and keep your health intact.

Brookmere starts at $269,000 and it has a total of 216 units.

 

The post Brookmere by Onni appeared first on Vancouver New Condos.

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Brookmere by Onni

The Brookmere by Onni, offers a 28 story tower that will rise above West Coquitlam.  Located at 535 North Road, Coquitlam, right in the heart of the new Burquitlam city centre. Brookmere blends Burnaby’s urban vive with the Coquitlam’s neighbourhood spirit.

Brookmere offers several amenities as well including a media room, yoga space, meeting room and 3^rd floor outdoor terrace with several garden plots. The media room is a great place to watch movies or the season finale of Game of Thrones.   On the other hand, the yoga space is a great place to exercise in. You can go to the yoga room and carry out yoga to stay fit or you can simply just go there and exercise however you want to.

Another offering of Brookmere is the party room. The party room comes equipped with full kitchen and dining. The full kitchen and dining is offers you an all exclusive access to kitchen appliances. You can easily cook your favorite meals there. On the other hand, the dining is also a great place to go and sit in and have food in. Aside from these amenities, another great offering at the Brookmere is the professional equipped gym. The professional equipped gym allows you to work out the best free of charge. It lets you exercise and keep your health intact.

Brookmere starts at $269,000 and it has a total of 216 units.

 

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3 Tips to Find Your Stolen Items after a Burglary

Being burglarized is a difficult experience and recovering your stolen goods may seem grim. Luckily, there are several simple things you can do to increase your chances of recovering your stolen property.

Image Source: Flickr

Below are 3 tips to find your stolen items after a burglary:

Pawn Shop
When a burglar needs to unload his latest haul, his first stop is often the pawn shop, where he can get quick, anonymous cash with no questions asked. It’s such a common move that some pawn shops already work directly with law enforcement through online databases such as Leads Online (another reason to file a police report quickly — these databases cross-reference with the reports, so if you haven’t bothered to call yours in, you’re out of luck). Just in case yours doesn’t, make a sweep as many local shops as you can, and see if they’ve got your stuff in stock. If you find it, don’t point it out — shop owners have money invested in your goods by this point, and might not react well.  Call up your buddies the police and leave it to them. Source: DumbLittleMan

Craigslist
A thief can easily sell your stolen goods online on Craigslist or Ebay, and the buyer would be none the wiser. It’s actually a successful tool for a thief and also an easy source to rake in cash off your property.
Here’s how it works:Enter the type in the make and model into the search field. The search engine crawls all of Craiglist ads to see if anyone is selling something similar to your stolen stuff. Not only does it search your local area, it searches all states and cities. Stolen911.com is an easy way to get stolen property indexed by the major search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing.
Searching for your stolen property on Craigslist can increase your chance of recovering your stolen items. For example, this woman went on Craigslist and worked with officers to find $6,650 of property stolen from her home. Source: SimpliSafe

Specialized Store
This is more time consuming but depending on the items which were stolen, you may find them in a specialised store.
If your jewellery is missing you may consider visiting jewellery stores in your area that say they “buy gold” or second hand items. Some of these places melt down the items so time is really of the essence.
You can try approaching the shop keeper and asking if items you are missing have been sold to the store in the last 24 hours. If you can provide an accurate description or produce a photo they are more likely to take you seriously.
If you have a strong suspicion a store has bought your stolen items, you should notify the police so they can conduct an investigation. Before approaching these shops make sure to notify police of your intentions so you don’t accidentally interfere with the investigation. Source: Blog.Cammy

Contact:
Mr. Locksmith Calgary
555 Maidstone Drive NE
Calgary, Alberta T2A 4B6
Canada
Phone: (403) 800-9185

The post 3 Tips to Find Your Stolen Items after a Burglary appeared first on Mr Locksmith Calgary.

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3 Tips to Find Your Stolen Items after a Burglary

Being burglarized is a difficult experience and recovering your stolen goods may seem grim. Luckily, there are several simple things you can do to increase your chances of recovering your stolen property.

Image Source: Flickr

Below are 3 tips to find your stolen items after a burglary:

Pawn Shop
When a burglar needs to unload his latest haul, his first stop is often the pawn shop, where he can get quick, anonymous cash with no questions asked. It's such a common move that some pawn shops already work directly with law enforcement through online databases such as Leads Online (another reason to file a police report quickly — these databases cross-reference with the reports, so if you haven't bothered to call yours in, you're out of luck). Just in case yours doesn't, make a sweep as many local shops as you can, and see if they've got your stuff in stock. If you find it, don't point it out — shop owners have money invested in your goods by this point, and might not react well.  Call up your buddies the police and leave it to them. Source: DumbLittleMan

Craigslist
A thief can easily sell your stolen goods online on Craigslist or Ebay, and the buyer would be none the wiser. It's actually a successful tool for a thief and also an easy source to rake in cash off your property.
Here's how it works:Enter the type in the make and model into the search field. The search engine crawls all of Craiglist ads to see if anyone is selling something similar to your stolen stuff. Not only does it search your local area, it searches all states and cities. Stolen911.com is an easy way to get stolen property indexed by the major search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing.
Searching for your stolen property on Craigslist can increase your chance of recovering your stolen items. For example, this woman went on Craigslist and worked with officers to find $6,650 of property stolen from her home. Source: SimpliSafe

Specialized Store
This is more time consuming but depending on the items which were stolen, you may find them in a specialised store.
If your jewellery is missing you may consider visiting jewellery stores in your area that say they "buy gold" or second hand items. Some of these places melt down the items so time is really of the essence.
You can try approaching the shop keeper and asking if items you are missing have been sold to the store in the last 24 hours. If you can provide an accurate description or produce a photo they are more likely to take you seriously.
If you have a strong suspicion a store has bought your stolen items, you should notify the police so they can conduct an investigation. Before approaching these shops make sure to notify police of your intentions so you don't accidentally interfere with the investigation. Source: Blog.Cammy

Contact:
Mr. Locksmith Calgary
555 Maidstone Drive NE
Calgary, Alberta T2A 4B6
Canada
Phone: (403) 800-9185

The post 3 Tips to Find Your Stolen Items after a Burglary appeared first on Mr Locksmith Calgary.

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Green Building: Understanding the Carbon Footprint of a Log Home

As we learn more and more about sustainability and our impact on the environment, there is an increased focus on building homes that are the less harmful to our planet. In the building industry they determine how "green" a building is by measuring its carbon footprint. It's important when measuring carbon footprint to take into consideration the entire lifecycle of a home not just how it operates after it's built. This article will help explain why building log and timber homes are greener, more sustainable and have a smaller carbon footprint compared to steel .

Forests and wood products are powerful tools to help mitigate the impacts of climate change. Source USDA Blog

What is a carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint, the total amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted directly or indirectly. For example, when you drive a car the engine burns fuel and creates a certain amount of CO2. Each vehicle can give off a different amount of CO2 depending on the fuel consumption of the vehicle. To understand the vehicle's total carbon footprint you need to look at how it was made, what materials it's made of, how it was transported, the CO2 it emits while you drive it, how long it will last and what will happen after it's operational. 

Trees Absorb Carbon

As trees grow they clean the air we breathe by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen. One tree can absorb up to 48 pounds of CO2 per year for a total of 1 ton by the time it reaches 40 years old. When a tree is cut down the carbon will remain stored in the tree. Only when the tree is burnt or  when it starts to  decay does that stored carbon start to be released back into our atmosphere. By dry weight, wood contains approximately 50% carbon, so wood used in a building provides physical storage of carbon that would otherwise go back into the atmosphere during the decaying process, thus reducing its carbon footprint.

The Carbon Footprint of a log home

Unfortunately, of the many environmental impact studies out there, only a few of them look at the entire lifecycle of a timber or log home and the way in which it results in a much smaller carbon footprint than steel and cement homes. Steel production alone accounts for around 25% of the world's CO2 emissions.

"In a wood building, the carbon is kept out of the atmosphere for the lifetime of the structure—or longer if the wood is reclaimed and reused or manufactured into other products. Wood stores more carbon than is emitted during its harvest, production, transport, and installation—even when transported over great distances."

Utilization of Harvested Wood by the North American Forest Products Industry, Dovetail Partners Inc., 2012

Wood is the only major building material that is renewable and sustainable over the long term, while also being superior to steel and cement in nearly every environmental impact category. As such, log and timber homes are one of the most sustainable forms of construction, lasting substantially longer than conventional homes, and using almost 4 times less fossil fuels in manufacturing than a conventionally framed home. They are among the most energy efficient homes built today.

In addition to the wood itself, there are number of other ways that building a log or timber home reduces its carbon footprint:

1. Smaller Footings

Because wood is a naturally lighter building material, log and timber frame homes don't require as deep and extensive concrete footings as conventional brick homes, which can save up to 11.5 tonnes in CO2 emissions.

2. Less Reinforcing Steel

Smaller footings also mean less concrete, and therefore a lower use of reinforcing steel. This reduces both the foundation costs and the carbon footprint.

3. Low Thermal Conductivity

 

Timber has a much lower thermal conductivity than brick, which means that there is much less transfer of outside temperatures into your home, providing more efficient temperature regulation.

4. Energy Efficient Insulation

 

Log and timber frame walls can be easily insulated with energy efficient materials, reducing heating and cooling costs throughout the year.

5. Reduced Embodied Energy

 

The overall production and transportation of timber to your home's location takes much less energy than producing and transporting brick and other conventional construction materials.
If minimizing your carbon footprint is a priority for you when building your home, a timber or log home may be a great option for you. Check out our Log Home Galleries and Log Home Plans to give you some different ideas and concepts, and feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.

from Artisan Custom Log Homes http://ift.tt/28WTOXD

Green Building: Understanding the Carbon Footprint of a Log Home

As we learn more and more about sustainability and our impact on the environment, there is an increased focus on building homes that are the less harmful to our planet. In the building industry they determine how “green” a building is by measuring its carbon footprint. It’s important when measuring carbon footprint to take into consideration the entire lifecycle of a home not just how it operates after it’s built. This article will help explain why building log and timber homes are greener, more sustainable and have a smaller carbon footprint compared to steel .

Forests and wood products are powerful tools to help mitigate the impacts of climate change. Source USDA Blog

What is a carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint, the total amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted directly or indirectly. For example, when you drive a car the engine burns fuel and creates a certain amount of CO2. Each vehicle can give off a different amount of CO2 depending on the fuel consumption of the vehicle. To understand the vehicle’s total carbon footprint you need to look at how it was made, what materials it’s made of, how it was transported, the CO2 it emits while you drive it, how long it will last and what will happen after it’s operational. 

Trees Absorb Carbon

As trees grow they clean the air we breathe by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen. One tree can absorb up to 48 pounds of CO2 per year for a total of 1 ton by the time it reaches 40 years old. When a tree is cut down the carbon will remain stored in the tree. Only when the tree is burnt or  when it starts to  decay does that stored carbon start to be released back into our atmosphere. By dry weight, wood contains approximately 50% carbon, so wood used in a building provides physical storage of carbon that would otherwise go back into the atmosphere during the decaying process, thus reducing its carbon footprint.

The Carbon Footprint of a log home

Unfortunately, of the many environmental impact studies out there, only a few of them look at the entire lifecycle of a timber or log home and the way in which it results in a much smaller carbon footprint than steel and cement homes. Steel production alone accounts for around 25% of the world’s CO2 emissions.

“In a wood building, the carbon is kept out of the atmosphere for the lifetime of the structure—or longer if the wood is reclaimed and reused or manufactured into other products. Wood stores more carbon than is emitted during its harvest, production, transport, and installation—even when transported over great distances.”

Utilization of Harvested Wood by the North American Forest Products Industry, Dovetail Partners Inc., 2012

Wood is the only major building material that is renewable and sustainable over the long term, while also being superior to steel and cement in nearly every environmental impact category. As such, log and timber homes are one of the most sustainable forms of construction, lasting substantially longer than conventional homes, and using almost 4 times less fossil fuels in manufacturing than a conventionally framed home. They are among the most energy efficient homes built today.

In addition to the wood itself, there are number of other ways that building a log or timber home reduces its carbon footprint:

1. Smaller Footings

Because wood is a naturally lighter building material, log and timber frame homes don’t require as deep and extensive concrete footings as conventional brick homes, which can save up to 11.5 tonnes in CO2 emissions.

2. Less Reinforcing Steel

Smaller footings also mean less concrete, and therefore a lower use of reinforcing steel. This reduces both the foundation costs and the carbon footprint.

3. Low Thermal Conductivity

 

Timber has a much lower thermal conductivity than brick, which means that there is much less transfer of outside temperatures into your home, providing more efficient temperature regulation.

4. Energy Efficient Insulation

 

Log and timber frame walls can be easily insulated with energy efficient materials, reducing heating and cooling costs throughout the year.

5. Reduced Embodied Energy

 

The overall production and transportation of timber to your home’s location takes much less energy than producing and transporting brick and other conventional construction materials.
If minimizing your carbon footprint is a priority for you when building your home, a timber or log home may be a great option for you. Check out our Log Home Galleries and Log Home Plans to give you some different ideas and concepts, and feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.

from Artisan Custom Log Homes http://ift.tt/28WTOXD

3 Signs That Burglars May Be Targeting Your Home

Is your home being watched? In this short post we'll cover some important signs that burglars might be targeting your home, including: strange vehicle on the street, stranger came to your door recently and unannounced handyman at your home.

Image Source: Flickr

Strange Vehicle on the Street
An unknown vehicle parked outside your home could be a warning sign. Look for vehicles that do not belong to any of your neighbors or people visiting them, or a vehicle that seems to be lingering in the area for no apparent reason. The vehicle may be parked for an extended period of time, or it may return at random times. Either could be an indication that someone is trying to learn your routine and determine the best time to strike. You should also be wary of strange vehicles with heavily tinted windows or cars parked at angles so you can't identify the occupants. Source: Safewise

Stranger Came to your Door Recently
Imagine this: A random woman comes up to your door and says, "Excuse me, but my phone died, and I need to make a quick to call to my friend to get directions to his house. Could I use your phone?"
Seems harmless. You let her inside. She makes the call and then she's on her way. No problems.
While this could be nothing more than it seems, it also could be a subtle tactic used by burglars to case your home.
You see, many burglars work in teams. One role in the team is to be the investigator. Their job?  To see:

• Where valuables are located
• Where spare keys are located
• Where the best entry points are
• If you have a security system (many burglars will back off after learning that you have one) Source: AckermanSecurity

Unannounced Handyman at your Home
Most times, you'll have an appointment set in advance when a cable repairman or someone from the utility company is stopping by to fix or service your equipment. So if a handyman, workman, or anyone else comes to your home unannounced, take warning.
WHAT TO DO: Don't let this person into your house. Tell them it's not a good time, and that you'll call the company to schedule another time. If the person is there legitimately to provide service, they will understand and should be able to provide you with a number to call to set up an appointment. Don't fall for the line, "this will only take a second…." Source: AlarmRelay

If you're concerned about this and would like to install a security system, contact us here today:

Contact:
Mr. Locksmith Calgary
555 Maidstone Drive NE
Calgary, Alberta T2A 4B6
Canada
Phone: (403) 800-9185

The post 3 Signs That Burglars May Be Targeting Your Home appeared first on Mr Locksmith Calgary.

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3 Signs That Burglars May Be Targeting Your Home

Is your home being watched? In this short post we’ll cover some important signs that burglars might be targeting your home, including: strange vehicle on the street, stranger came to your door recently and unannounced handyman at your home.

Image Source: Flickr

Strange Vehicle on the Street
An unknown vehicle parked outside your home could be a warning sign. Look for vehicles that do not belong to any of your neighbors or people visiting them, or a vehicle that seems to be lingering in the area for no apparent reason. The vehicle may be parked for an extended period of time, or it may return at random times. Either could be an indication that someone is trying to learn your routine and determine the best time to strike. You should also be wary of strange vehicles with heavily tinted windows or cars parked at angles so you can’t identify the occupants. Source: Safewise

Stranger Came to your Door Recently
Imagine this: A random woman comes up to your door and says, “Excuse me, but my phone died, and I need to make a quick to call to my friend to get directions to his house. Could I use your phone?”
Seems harmless. You let her inside. She makes the call and then she’s on her way. No problems.
While this could be nothing more than it seems, it also could be a subtle tactic used by burglars to case your home.
You see, many burglars work in teams. One role in the team is to be the investigator. Their job?  To see:

• Where valuables are located
• Where spare keys are located
• Where the best entry points are
• If you have a security system (many burglars will back off after learning that you have one) Source: AckermanSecurity

Unannounced Handyman at your Home
Most times, you’ll have an appointment set in advance when a cable repairman or someone from the utility company is stopping by to fix or service your equipment. So if a handyman, workman, or anyone else comes to your home unannounced, take warning.
WHAT TO DO: Don’t let this person into your house. Tell them it’s not a good time, and that you’ll call the company to schedule another time. If the person is there legitimately to provide service, they will understand and should be able to provide you with a number to call to set up an appointment. Don’t fall for the line, “this will only take a second….” Source: AlarmRelay

If you’re concerned about this and would like to install a security system, contact us here today:

Contact:
Mr. Locksmith Calgary
555 Maidstone Drive NE
Calgary, Alberta T2A 4B6
Canada
Phone: (403) 800-9185

The post 3 Signs That Burglars May Be Targeting Your Home appeared first on Mr Locksmith Calgary.

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How to Make Kick-Ass Travel Videos

As you know, over the last few months, I’ve been putting together an online travel media school covering writing, photography, marketing, and, now as of today, video. Today, I’m announcing the final course in the media school on making travel videos.

Even though I’m a writer, I admit that video is the next big thing. Humans love video. We are visual creatures. Video gives us a special connection to the content we are watching. It makes everything seem more real and alive.

Video is already everywhere in our society: we Netflix and Hulu from our phones, we watch cat videos on YouTube, we Snapchat, and we search for videos to help us tie a bow tie or plant a garden or put on makeup. With better bandwidth and smartphones in everyone’s hand, we’re consuming video like never before.

And video consumption is only going to increase.

Travel is one of the largest subjects on YouTube, and video is the wave of the future in the travel industry.

Even though it feels like YouTube is crowded with thousands of channels all saying the same thing and everyone is on Snapchat, the truth is that the video industry is very young and still finding its way. It’s the wild west out there and, with that comes great opportunity to grow and succeed. There is plenty of space for you and your story.

If you’ve been thinking about branching into the travel video world, NOW is the time to get started.

Because I believe in video so much I partnered with two of the biggest travel YouTubers in the world to create an in-depth course on how to make videos and succeed at YouTube: Nadine Sykora from Hey Nadine and Kristen Sarah from Hopscotch the Globe!

Nadine and Kristen are experts at video. They have both been making video for over 10 years and have a combined 335,000 subscribers and 46,000,000 views (and growing). They have worked with some of the biggest brands, tourism boards, and production companies in the world and regularly speak at conferences. I’m actually here with them at VidCon (the biggest YouTube conference in the world) in L.A. where they are speaking and running workshops on travel videos. There’s no two better suited to help you make amazing videos!

They didn’t start out as experts. They were just like you: with a desire for travel, a passion for video, and an idea.

Like you, they were unsure of themselves and ability to put themselves out there. Kristen used to be so afraid of filming, she couldn’t do it in front of people for fear of embarrassing herself. And yet now she’s one of the biggest travel YouTubers out there!

There could be a whole host of other reasons you haven’t started video yet: you don’t know what gear to get, or how to edit, perform on camera, connect with established brands, or make money.

But Nadine and Kristen were there just like you. Like you, they imagined a world in which they were successful in travel video production but didn’t know how to get there.

They had to learn via trail and error.

They leapt not because they had skills, but because their dream was too important not to.

But we’ve created this course to be the roadmap they didn’t have.

You don’t need to worry about failure, because you have two of the top travel YouTubers in the world walking you through creating a channel, video production, growing your channel, and making money, answering your questions along the way. They will make sure you know what works, help you limit your mistakes, and provide guidance so you can get a leg up on the seemingly endless supply of new vloggers.

Whether you are looking to make this your job or just to get better at filming your own travels for home videos, our course has been designed to help you.

Taught through video instruction, step-by-step guides, photo and video examples, and take home exercises, this course will give you a complete understanding of how to succeed with video online.

What’s included in this course

• Learn the art of filmmaking — from how to think about video, to developing shots, to painting a visual story that others want to watch.
• Learn to get over any shyness and become a superstar on camera with our proven tips and advice.
• Become an expert on gear — see what we use and why.
• Get the dos and don’ts on filming outside, how to keep your gear safe, and how to always be on the right side of the law.
• Learn the secrets to conducting great interviews and using those to grow your channel faster.
• Become an editing master with advice on how to edit, structure stories, and do voiceovers.
• Get the secrets to growing your channel and viewership from our experience — and failures.
• Learn what to do — and not to do — in order to connect and collaborate with other influencers, a vital part of any YouTuber’s career!
• Learn how you can successfully make money from this!
• A private Facebook group where you can network, collaborate, and get advice — not only from fellow students but also Nadine and Kristen!
• Quarterly webinars

Plus you’ll get interviews with other major YouTubers and video producers on how to edit, market, and create videos people want to watch! Included are Mark Weins (400,000+ subscribers), Alli Speed (540,000+ subscribers), Mike Corey (18,000+ subscribers), Matthew Santoro (5.4 million+ subscribers), and Abby Fuller (director, Chef’s Table on Netflix). (Plus, as we add more interviews, you’ll also get access to them too!)

If you’ve been looking for instruction on video, this course is for you.

If you’ve been wanting to break into Youtube, this course is for you.

You can get this course for a one-time payment of $499 that will include lifetime access to the content and updates. With so many people turning their passion for video into careers, this is an investment that will pay off! All you have to click the button below to get started right away:

 

(Want to pay in installments? No problem! You can pay $125 per month for 4 months! Click here for that payment option.)

Money Back Guarantee

If you aren’t 100% satisfied with this course or find it helpful, email me within 14 days of purchasing and I will refund your money. I am that confident you will find this course valuable and educational. There’s nothing like it out there but, if after doing the work, you find it doesn’t meet your needs, we’ll happily and quickly refund your money.

Not so long ago, it was nearly impossible for artists to make a living. Today, platforms such as YouTube have allowed creatives to thrive and make a living from their art. In fact, there are online video creators making millions and replacing the faces of television and film in some of the largest brand campaigns.

If you are looking to get started with video but aren’t sure where to start and want some direction, this course is for you. No other travel video course features as many experts sharing their secrets to success in one place. If you’re going to learn video, learn from the best! With this course, you’ll be able to avoid the mistakes newbies make, find out what works, and start growing your video empire right away – instead of just fumbling around in the dark!

P.S. – If you’re an existing Superstar Blogging course member, you get 20% off and should have gotten an email about it already!

The post How to Make Kick-Ass Travel Videos appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Nomadic Matt's Travel Site http://ift.tt/28PoU2v

How to Make Kick-Ass Travel Videos

As you know, over the last few months, I've been putting together an online travel media school covering writing, photography, marketing, and, now as of today, video. Today, I'm announcing the final course in the media school on making travel videos.

Even though I'm a writer, I admit that video is the next big thing. Humans love video. We are visual creatures. Video gives us a special connection to the content we are watching. It makes everything seem more real and alive.

Video is already everywhere in our society: we Netflix and Hulu from our phones, we watch cat videos on YouTube, we Snapchat, and we search for videos to help us tie a bow tie or plant a garden or put on makeup. With better bandwidth and smartphones in everyone's hand, we're consuming video like never before.

And video consumption is only going to increase.

Travel is one of the largest subjects on YouTube, and video is the wave of the future in the travel industry.

Even though it feels like YouTube is crowded with thousands of channels all saying the same thing and everyone is on Snapchat, the truth is that the video industry is very young and still finding its way. It's the wild west out there and, with that comes great opportunity to grow and succeed. There is plenty of space for you and your story.

If you've been thinking about branching into the travel video world, NOW is the time to get started.

Because I believe in video so much I partnered with two of the biggest travel YouTubers in the world to create an in-depth course on how to make videos and succeed at YouTube: Nadine Sykora from Hey Nadine and Kristen Sarah from Hopscotch the Globe!

Nadine and Kristen are experts at video. They have both been making video for over 10 years and have a combined 335,000 subscribers and 46,000,000 views (and growing). They have worked with some of the biggest brands, tourism boards, and production companies in the world and regularly speak at conferences. I'm actually here with them at VidCon (the biggest YouTube conference in the world) in L.A. where they are speaking and running workshops on travel videos. There's no two better suited to help you make amazing videos!

They didn't start out as experts. They were just like you: with a desire for travel, a passion for video, and an idea.

Like you, they were unsure of themselves and ability to put themselves out there. Kristen used to be so afraid of filming, she couldn't do it in front of people for fear of embarrassing herself. And yet now she's one of the biggest travel YouTubers out there!

There could be a whole host of other reasons you haven't started video yet: you don't know what gear to get, or how to edit, perform on camera, connect with established brands, or make money.

But Nadine and Kristen were there just like you. Like you, they imagined a world in which they were successful in travel video production but didn't know how to get there.

They had to learn via trail and error.

They leapt not because they had skills, but because their dream was too important not to.

But we've created this course to be the roadmap they didn't have.

You don't need to worry about failure, because you have two of the top travel YouTubers in the world walking you through creating a channel, video production, growing your channel, and making money, answering your questions along the way. They will make sure you know what works, help you limit your mistakes, and provide guidance so you can get a leg up on the seemingly endless supply of new vloggers.

Whether you are looking to make this your job or just to get better at filming your own travels for home videos, our course has been designed to help you.

Taught through video instruction, step-by-step guides, photo and video examples, and take home exercises, this course will give you a complete understanding of how to succeed with video online.

What's included in this course

• Learn the art of filmmaking — from how to think about video, to developing shots, to painting a visual story that others want to watch.
• Learn to get over any shyness and become a superstar on camera with our proven tips and advice.
• Become an expert on gear — see what we use and why.
• Get the dos and don'ts on filming outside, how to keep your gear safe, and how to always be on the right side of the law.
• Learn the secrets to conducting great interviews and using those to grow your channel faster.
• Become an editing master with advice on how to edit, structure stories, and do voiceovers.
• Get the secrets to growing your channel and viewership from our experience — and failures.
• Learn what to do — and not to do — in order to connect and collaborate with other influencers, a vital part of any YouTuber's career!
• Learn how you can successfully make money from this!
• A private Facebook group where you can network, collaborate, and get advice — not only from fellow students but also Nadine and Kristen!
• Quarterly webinars

Plus you'll get interviews with other major YouTubers and video producers on how to edit, market, and create videos people want to watch! Included are Mark Weins (400,000+ subscribers), Alli Speed (540,000+ subscribers), Mike Corey (18,000+ subscribers), Matthew Santoro (5.4 million+ subscribers), and Abby Fuller (director, Chef's Table on Netflix). (Plus, as we add more interviews, you'll also get access to them too!)

If you've been looking for instruction on video, this course is for you.

If you've been wanting to break into Youtube, this course is for you.

You can get this course for a one-time payment of $499 that will include lifetime access to the content and updates. With so many people turning their passion for video into careers, this is an investment that will pay off! All you have to click the button below to get started right away:

 

(Want to pay in installments? No problem! You can pay $125 per month for 4 months! Click here for that payment option.)

Money Back Guarantee

If you aren't 100% satisfied with this course or find it helpful, email me within 14 days of purchasing and I will refund your money. I am that confident you will find this course valuable and educational. There's nothing like it out there but, if after doing the work, you find it doesn't meet your needs, we'll happily and quickly refund your money.

Not so long ago, it was nearly impossible for artists to make a living. Today, platforms such as YouTube have allowed creatives to thrive and make a living from their art. In fact, there are online video creators making millions and replacing the faces of television and film in some of the largest brand campaigns.

If you are looking to get started with video but aren't sure where to start and want some direction, this course is for you. No other travel video course features as many experts sharing their secrets to success in one place. If you're going to learn video, learn from the best! With this course, you'll be able to avoid the mistakes newbies make, find out what works, and start growing your video empire right away – instead of just fumbling around in the dark!

P.S. – If you're an existing Superstar Blogging course member, you get 20% off and should have gotten an email about it already!

The post How to Make Kick-Ass Travel Videos appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Nomadic Matt's Travel Site http://ift.tt/28PoU2v

How to Crush it on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is one of the oldest sharing-economy travel websites out there. It (and sites like it, such as BeWelcome, Servas, Hospitality Club, and GlobalFreeloaders) is one of the best ways to connect with locals, get off the main tourist travel path, make new friends — and save money by getting free accommodation. All of these websites were started by people searching for a way to get out of the hotel/hostel paradigm, connect with locals, and get to know a place deeper.

I've been using Couchsurfing since I started traveling in 2006. My first host was a woman in Athens who let me stay for two nights. My second host was a guy who let me stay in his guesthouse (with a pool!) in Australia for as long as I wanted. (After coming off eight months of backpacking in Southeast Asia, it was much-needed luxury!) I've been taken on tours of cities and to rock shows, college parties, and even a family's Sunday dinner. Couchsurfing has opened up a world of amazing people to me while helping bring down on the biggest costs in travel.

So it should be no surprise that the service is very popular with travelers — and hosts get inundated with requests!

In fact, I hear from a lot of people who say they never get a response when they apply for stays. For example, a traveler staying at my hostel recently commented that he had a zero response rate from hosts when looking for a place to stay in Austin. A friend who was with me said she always replies to people and openly wondered what his emails said. Maybe the issue was how he approached hosts.

If you're sending out dozens of requests and not one host writes back — even to say no — then something is wrong with your approach. Hosts can usually smell the travelers who just want to use them for a free place to stay a mile away (a lesson I learned the hard way early on).

So how do you succeed at Couchsurfing? How do you find people who will say agree to host you but won't be total creeps? Show that you want to be involved in the community. That you care. That you took the time to fill out your profile in detail and aren't just using this as a way to avoid paying $30 for a dorm bed. To that end, some tips follow:

Always have multiple (and current) profile pictures

This just shows me, as a potential host, that you're a real person. Have pictures of you with your friends, from your travels, and having fun. I can see you took time to put the photos up. It shows you care and you have a social life. Moreover, make sure they match your age. If your profile says you are 30 and your photos look like they were taken ten years ago, that's a bit weird. Keep them updated. I am constantly adding photos from my travels. I currently have five uploaded. I don't think there is any magic number to this but the more the better.

Have recommendations and reviews

Both hosts and travelers can accrue recommendations from other hosts, friends, and guests. As always, the more positive reviews, the better. If you see that other people have stayed with the host and had a fun and safe experience, you probably will too. You might not get along with the host in the end, but at least you know they aren't a creep or will steal your stuff.

The same works for you, the potential guest. Hosts want to see that you aren't a creep too!

However, if you are new to the service don't have any reviews, ask your friends who use the service to write you a review and describe you as a friend. I accept a lot of people as guests because, while they are new to the service, they have positive reviews from people they know (who also have positive reviews), from other people they've met traveling, or from Couchsurfng meet-ups.

Attend meet-ups

One way to start the process of getting the social proof required to succeed at Couchsurfing is to attend meet-ups and local events. After all, Couchsurfng is more than just staying with people. It's about being part of a community. Each city has lots of activities, groups, and events that you can attend, even if you aren't staying with someone. Meet people — whether as a local or a traveler — and get to know them. Go places. Hang out. Get reviews from people. Not all your reviews need to come from people who have stayed with you!

Plus, this is a great way to make new friends who like to travel!

Be a host first

One way to earn reviews is to host people first. Being a host isn't always about having people stay with you either. Sometimes it's just being a tour guide. I've had amazing hosts who just showed me their town — from the girl in the Ukraine who brought me to a university party, to the guy in Oxford who took me rowing, to the friends in Munich who took me an amazing rock concert.

So, if you don't want to have people in your home, offer to take people out and show them around your city. If people have spent time with you — even if they haven't stayed at your place — you'll increase the likelihood people will consent to have you at their house!

Fill out your profile in detail

If you've taken the time to fill out your profile, it probably means you are serious about this site. It will give people a chance to learn what kind of person you are instead of guessing based on the one email you wrote them and that ten-year-old photo you quickly put up. Profiles with thought and detail get a lot more responses. I want to know about the stranger I am going to have in my home, and your complete profile lets me do that.

Get verified

Couchsurfing offers different levels of verification. Members can be verified by other travelers, with a mailing address, or with a credit card. Knowing that a person has been verified reduces the likelihood that they are going to be a crazy psycho killer. However, if someone isn't verified but has a lot of reviews, that's OK with me as a host. Verification isn't a must, but it does help! (Note: I haven't gotten verified yet myself!) 

Write a captivating and personal email

Write a personalized email about why you want to stay with someone. Talk about what you liked about their profile, why you would be a good fit, your habits, what you want to get out of it, and even what you can offer the host. Be interesting and be personal.

The reason most people fail at Couchsurfing is that they send out boring, generic, cut-and-pasted emails. Here is an example of that:

Hi Matt,

I'm coming to Austin next week for 3 days. Can I stay with you?

Sam

I would ignore or respond no to that email. It doesn't tell me anything about the person. I have to do the extra work to go to the person's page, click around, and figure out on my own if this person is normal or not.

A much better email is would be:

Hi Matt,

How are you? I'm coming to Austin next week for three days and saw your host page. Like you, I'm also a big fan of Game of Thrones, whiskey, and Thai food. It would be awesome to have a host who could show me those things around Austin. I've heard lots of wonderful things about the city and am looking to get outdoors and explore. I also love to cook and would like to cook you a meal from my country, France! I'm quiet, clean, and won't be in your way if you need to work or something.

– Sam

That's the kind of email would get a response from me! Moreover, Benny Lewis of Fluent in 3 Months, who has hosted over 2,000 couchsurfers, offers this advice:

"Think of what you can do for that host. People tend to be very self-centered in their emails and say how amazing a person they are, which would make me roll my eyes a lot. But the odd email would be from someone who picked up on something on my profile, such as a language I'd like to learn, and saying that in exchange for the couch, he can teach me some of that language. That would pique my interest and get me to host them more!

When there is a sense that someone deserves to be hosted, forgetting that I'm giving them the roof and local tours, etc., free of charge, it's a breath of fresh air when someone says that if I take him to a local club, he'll teach me hip-hop dance moves."

Don't be self-centered. It's obvious you are looking for a free place to stay but you have to go beyond that. Let hosts know what you can do for them and why it's going to be a fun experience.

Send out multiple emails

Part of Couchsurfing is playing the numbers game. It's just a fact of the system. If you email just one or two people, especially in a city with few hosts, it's doubtful you'll find much success. Email as many hosts as possible to maximize your chances. Saying "sorry, I've found another host" is not going to cause any bad blood, and most hosts recognize you are mailing multiple people. I don't email potential hosts who haven't been active on the site within 30 days because it's less likely they will respond to you.

**** Most people fail at Couchsurfing because they use it as a way to just get a free place to stay. They put little effort into it. While it is a wonderful site to find free accommodation and save a lot of money, no one wants to feel used. Couchsurfing is an attitude, a way of thinking, a community. Not all hosts want to interact with their guests, but even those who want minimal contact still want to meet and talk to interesting people. If they didn't, they would use Airbnb instead. To be a Couchsurfing "boss," you have to come in with a positive attitude and a desire to be part of the local community.

And always remember to be a good guest — be respectful, be clean, be tidy, and follow any "house" rules set by the hosts.

The post How to Crush it on Couchsurfing appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Nomadic Matt's Travel Site http://ift.tt/28K7zpC

How to Crush it on Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is one of the oldest sharing-economy travel websites out there. It (and sites like it, such as BeWelcome, Servas, Hospitality Club, and GlobalFreeloaders) is one of the best ways to connect with locals, get off the main tourist travel path, make new friends — and save money by getting free accommodation. All of these websites were started by people searching for a way to get out of the hotel/hostel paradigm, connect with locals, and get to know a place deeper.

I’ve been using Couchsurfing since I started traveling in 2006. My first host was a woman in Athens who let me stay for two nights. My second host was a guy who let me stay in his guesthouse (with a pool!) in Australia for as long as I wanted. (After coming off eight months of backpacking in Southeast Asia, it was much-needed luxury!) I’ve been taken on tours of cities and to rock shows, college parties, and even a family’s Sunday dinner. Couchsurfing has opened up a world of amazing people to me while helping bring down on the biggest costs in travel.

So it should be no surprise that the service is very popular with travelers — and hosts get inundated with requests!

In fact, I hear from a lot of people who say they never get a response when they apply for stays. For example, a traveler staying at my hostel recently commented that he had a zero response rate from hosts when looking for a place to stay in Austin. A friend who was with me said she always replies to people and openly wondered what his emails said. Maybe the issue was how he approached hosts.

If you’re sending out dozens of requests and not one host writes back — even to say no — then something is wrong with your approach. Hosts can usually smell the travelers who just want to use them for a free place to stay a mile away (a lesson I learned the hard way early on).

So how do you succeed at Couchsurfing? How do you find people who will say agree to host you but won’t be total creeps? Show that you want to be involved in the community. That you care. That you took the time to fill out your profile in detail and aren’t just using this as a way to avoid paying $30 for a dorm bed. To that end, some tips follow:

Always have multiple (and current) profile pictures

This just shows me, as a potential host, that you’re a real person. Have pictures of you with your friends, from your travels, and having fun. I can see you took time to put the photos up. It shows you care and you have a social life. Moreover, make sure they match your age. If your profile says you are 30 and your photos look like they were taken ten years ago, that’s a bit weird. Keep them updated. I am constantly adding photos from my travels. I currently have five uploaded. I don’t think there is any magic number to this but the more the better.

Have recommendations and reviews

Both hosts and travelers can accrue recommendations from other hosts, friends, and guests. As always, the more positive reviews, the better. If you see that other people have stayed with the host and had a fun and safe experience, you probably will too. You might not get along with the host in the end, but at least you know they aren’t a creep or will steal your stuff.

The same works for you, the potential guest. Hosts want to see that you aren’t a creep too!

However, if you are new to the service don’t have any reviews, ask your friends who use the service to write you a review and describe you as a friend. I accept a lot of people as guests because, while they are new to the service, they have positive reviews from people they know (who also have positive reviews), from other people they’ve met traveling, or from Couchsurfng meet-ups.

Attend meet-ups

One way to start the process of getting the social proof required to succeed at Couchsurfing is to attend meet-ups and local events. After all, Couchsurfng is more than just staying with people. It’s about being part of a community. Each city has lots of activities, groups, and events that you can attend, even if you aren’t staying with someone. Meet people — whether as a local or a traveler — and get to know them. Go places. Hang out. Get reviews from people. Not all your reviews need to come from people who have stayed with you!

Plus, this is a great way to make new friends who like to travel!

Be a host first

One way to earn reviews is to host people first. Being a host isn’t always about having people stay with you either. Sometimes it’s just being a tour guide. I’ve had amazing hosts who just showed me their town — from the girl in the Ukraine who brought me to a university party, to the guy in Oxford who took me rowing, to the friends in Munich who took me an amazing rock concert.

So, if you don’t want to have people in your home, offer to take people out and show them around your city. If people have spent time with you — even if they haven’t stayed at your place — you’ll increase the likelihood people will consent to have you at their house!

Fill out your profile in detail

If you’ve taken the time to fill out your profile, it probably means you are serious about this site. It will give people a chance to learn what kind of person you are instead of guessing based on the one email you wrote them and that ten-year-old photo you quickly put up. Profiles with thought and detail get a lot more responses. I want to know about the stranger I am going to have in my home, and your complete profile lets me do that.

Get verified

Couchsurfing offers different levels of verification. Members can be verified by other travelers, with a mailing address, or with a credit card. Knowing that a person has been verified reduces the likelihood that they are going to be a crazy psycho killer. However, if someone isn’t verified but has a lot of reviews, that’s OK with me as a host. Verification isn’t a must, but it does help! (Note: I haven’t gotten verified yet myself!) 

Write a captivating and personal email

Write a personalized email about why you want to stay with someone. Talk about what you liked about their profile, why you would be a good fit, your habits, what you want to get out of it, and even what you can offer the host. Be interesting and be personal.

The reason most people fail at Couchsurfing is that they send out boring, generic, cut-and-pasted emails. Here is an example of that:

Hi Matt,

I’m coming to Austin next week for 3 days. Can I stay with you?

Sam

I would ignore or respond no to that email. It doesn’t tell me anything about the person. I have to do the extra work to go to the person’s page, click around, and figure out on my own if this person is normal or not.

A much better email is would be:

Hi Matt,

How are you? I’m coming to Austin next week for three days and saw your host page. Like you, I’m also a big fan of Game of Thrones, whiskey, and Thai food. It would be awesome to have a host who could show me those things around Austin. I’ve heard lots of wonderful things about the city and am looking to get outdoors and explore. I also love to cook and would like to cook you a meal from my country, France! I’m quiet, clean, and won’t be in your way if you need to work or something.

– Sam

That’s the kind of email would get a response from me! Moreover, Benny Lewis of Fluent in 3 Months, who has hosted over 2,000 couchsurfers, offers this advice:

“Think of what you can do for that host. People tend to be very self-centered in their emails and say how amazing a person they are, which would make me roll my eyes a lot. But the odd email would be from someone who picked up on something on my profile, such as a language I’d like to learn, and saying that in exchange for the couch, he can teach me some of that language. That would pique my interest and get me to host them more!

When there is a sense that someone deserves to be hosted, forgetting that I’m giving them the roof and local tours, etc., free of charge, it’s a breath of fresh air when someone says that if I take him to a local club, he’ll teach me hip-hop dance moves.”

Don’t be self-centered. It’s obvious you are looking for a free place to stay but you have to go beyond that. Let hosts know what you can do for them and why it’s going to be a fun experience.

Send out multiple emails

Part of Couchsurfing is playing the numbers game. It’s just a fact of the system. If you email just one or two people, especially in a city with few hosts, it’s doubtful you’ll find much success. Email as many hosts as possible to maximize your chances. Saying “sorry, I’ve found another host” is not going to cause any bad blood, and most hosts recognize you are mailing multiple people. I don’t email potential hosts who haven’t been active on the site within 30 days because it’s less likely they will respond to you.

**** Most people fail at Couchsurfing because they use it as a way to just get a free place to stay. They put little effort into it. While it is a wonderful site to find free accommodation and save a lot of money, no one wants to feel used. Couchsurfing is an attitude, a way of thinking, a community. Not all hosts want to interact with their guests, but even those who want minimal contact still want to meet and talk to interesting people. If they didn’t, they would use Airbnb instead. To be a Couchsurfing “boss,” you have to come in with a positive attitude and a desire to be part of the local community.

And always remember to be a good guest — be respectful, be clean, be tidy, and follow any “house” rules set by the hosts.

The post How to Crush it on Couchsurfing appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Nomadic Matt's Travel Site http://ift.tt/28K7zpC