askboard - You Ask the Question - We Find the Answer

Is Postloop a Scam or Legit? – Postloop Review

Is Postloop a Scam and can you Earn Money from Writing Comments?

In this article, I will provide an honest review of Postloop, provide the pros and cons of the service. Also tips that will help you earn more money. Plus I will provide some alternatives to Postloop.

What is Postloop?

Postloop is a service that pays people to post or comment on other people’s blogs or forums. The website owners benefit from having fresh content on their sites and more key phrases that could rank on Google. This brings them extra web traffic and SEO benefits. Also content that is more engaging will tend to attract more web visitors in the long run.

This is particularly important to people who own forums whereby receiving traffic to a forum can take some time and requires existing contributers.

The person who comments or posts is paid to type out these comments on subjects that interest them while improving their own writing skills. Also the website visitor benefits from interesting and engaging content about a topic they’re interested in.

Postloop is a service that provides a middle man between the website owner who needs more content and the content creator looking to make some extra money.

Postloop is for anyone looking to supplement their income and work from the comfort of their home. Working from home means no inconvenience or cost that comes with travelling to work. You can earn money from any country and there’s no age or location restriction. It is therefore great for adolescents or those who want to supplement their income and want to improve their writing skills while earning money in the process.

What can I Realistically Expect to Earn from Postloop

Realistically you can earn around $50.00 a day. However, you should be able to earn more than this if you have good writing skills, good spelling and grammar, and earn commission from the people that you recruit into the program.

How does Postloop Work

When you sign up with Postloop, you will be encouraged to fill out your profile with basic information about yourself and your interests and select the subjects that interest you the most.

You will then sign up with The Postloop Portal where you will go through a trial period and make 10 posts which the owner of Postloop is going to rate you on based on your writing skills and the quality of the content.

After you’ve been accepted you can login and subscribe to forums. This will link Postloop to the Site owners forum or blog. You can then start posting to the list straight away.

These will include anything from shopping and business, to sites related to animals, cars, cooking, gardening, video games, parenting and travel.

It’s a good idea to write comments on subjects you’re interested on. Not only is this easier because you know something about the subject beforehand but you’ll find it more rewarding.

Make sure you continue to provide correct spelling, capitalization and punctuation as this is often what gets people a lot of low ratings. Remember your earnings is partly dependent on your rating.

Tips on how to Pass Postloops Quality Assessment

You want to make sure you do really well for the first 10 posts so that you pass their quality assessment and can post to multiple sites. A few tips to consider when trying to qualify include:

• Good Grammar
• Good Spelling
• Proper Capitalization
• Proper Punctuation
• Create a comment/post with 4-5 sentences
• Create some new threads on forums rather than just reply to existing posts/comments
• Always proofread your post before you click Submit

Payment Structure

You earn $0.05 per point earned and it can take up to 24 hours before you get paid. Postloop claims that on average Content writers earn $0.07 per post/comment and higher for the best writers. 1 point Translates into $0.05 and points are determined by the number of comments and the quality of the writing:

1 Point	$0.05
10 Point	$0.50
100 Points	$5.00
1000 Points	$50.00

Before you can withdraw you’ll need a minimum of 200 points which equates to $5.00 and you’re rating must be higher than the average user rating to withdraw funds.

Rating System and Bonus Points

To view your rating go to your dashboard. You will be rated on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best and one the worst. The higher your rating the more you will get paid:

Rating < 4:	No bonus points
Rating of 4.00 – 4.24:	0.25 bonus points per post
Rating of 4.25 – 4.49:	0.35 bonus points per post
Rating of 4.50 – 4.74:	0.50 bonus points per post
Rating of 4.75 – 4.99:	0.75 bonus points per post
Rating of 5:	1.00 bonus point per post

The Pros and Cons of Postloop for Site owners and Writers

The Pros of Postloop if you’re a Writer

• Low Withdrawal Limit – You only need to earn as little as $5.00 before you can withdraw your money.
• Flexibility – You can choose what subjects and sites to post to thereby enabling you to write about only subjects you’re interested in. There’s a lot of different topics to choose from.
• No Time Frame – You can work at your own pace and are not required to submit a specific number of comments within any time frame.
• Convenience – Content writers only need to pass the initial quality process to start posting and earning so you don’t need to go through this process multiple times for different sites.
• Withdraw when you want – there are no monthly payments and you can withdraw the next day you sign up if you meet the payment threshold of $5.00
• Paypal – You’re paid with PayPal which makes payment quick, reliable and easy.
• No Restrictions – There’s no restrictions based on age or location. So long as you have decent writing skills you can start earning.
• Bonus Points – You can earn extra money from Bonus Points for a high user rating.
• Residual Income – if you refer new people to Postloop you will earn 20% of all points your referrals make. This can significant boost your income if you can refer enough people. Residual income is when you continue to get paid after the work is done.

The Cons of Postloop if you’re a Writer

• User Average: User average must be higher than the average user to withdraw.
• Lot of Work: Can seem like a lot of work for little pay at first until you get faster, more proficient and start earning residual income from anyone your recruit into Postloop.
• Forum limit: There’s a limit on the number of times per day you can post to certain sites. This is usually around 5 for each site.
• Higher Rating: Some sites require a higher rating to post and usually won’t allow anyone with a rating below 4 to post.

The Pros of Postloop if you’re a Web Owner

• Quality – They do a good job at weeding out the low-quality writers unlike many other similar sites.
• Low Cost – Provides a cheap and easy way of receiving content to your blog or forum.
• SEO Benefits – Builds traffic to your forum or blog as there’s more key phrases to rank for.
• Free Membership – The membership is free and you’re only required to pay based on the number of comments and their quality.

The Cons of Postloop if you’re a Web Owner

• Setup: You have to go through the process of linking your site to Postloop.
• Time: Some time and effort is required to monitor the quality of the posts or comments

PostLoop Tips

Here’s some tips for after you’ve been approved that will ensure you maintain a high rating and earn to your potential.

• See things from the website owner’s perspective. They’re looking to increase traffic to their site through interaction with visitors combined with keyword rich quality content.
• Keep your posts authentic: This is why it’s best to write about subject’s you either know something about or are interested in. Knowledge and interest in a topic go a long way in appearing like a helpful and authentic resource for information.
• Start a Conversation: Don’t just post a reply to an existing conversation but sometimes create a new thread to start a conversation. This will help generate interest and bring fresh visitors to the site.
• Withdraw as soon as possible: Withdraw your money often in case your rating drops below the average. If your rating drops below the average you will not be able to withdraw until you increase it again.
• If you Cannot Withdraw: If your rating does fall below the average and you cannot withdraw don’t panic or despair. Just take more time to write higher quality posts in future until you’ve increased your rating above the threshold.
• Keep on topic: Don’t talk about something unrelated to what the thread is about. Staying on topic will ensure visitors stay longer and find the answer to their question.
• Fill in your profile: Taking the time to fill out your profile and add an avatar image – preferably a photo of yourself. This will help you look more authentic and professional.
• Keep to the Rules: Make sure you read through the requirements before you start posting. These include things like not posting referral links, not spamming or mentioning Postloop in your comments.

PostLoop Alternatives

Some alternatives to Postloop Include:

The Forum Wheel – This site is similar to Postloop but it is more geared toward forums. Just like postloop you are paid $0.05 per point.

ContentGather – This site is geared toward content for all types of sites and unlike the Forum Wheel and Postloop charge per number of words. It’s a content writing service offering a platform to connect writers with website owners who need content whether it be blog posts, articles, product descriptions, press releases, product reviews, tutorials, how-tos, tutorials, and more).

iWriter – Paid by word length, the complexity of the articles and the quality of the writers with a star rating of 5 being the highest.

ForumCoin – Earn money at the forumcoin classified and exchanges by taking mini jobs offered by other members. Some tasks include simple jobs like subscribing to a YouTube channel for ten coins. You can also offer jobs.

Chatabout – On Chatabout you can chat about things you’re interested in across thousands of different topics and each time you interact with the ChatAbout community, you’ll earn points that can be redeemed for cash, gift cards, and other products.

BlogMutt – BlogMutt is blog centered with you getting $8 for every 250 to 350 words post that is actually purchased by a client. The more content of yours that gets purchased the more points you will receive. You can then move up the rankings towards $19 for 600+ words, $40 for 900+ words, and $72 for 1200+ words.

Is PostLoop a Scam?

No, Postloop is not a scam and you can earn money from writing comments on blogs or forums, however you have to create a lot of comments to earn a decent amount of money or earn residual income by referring others to the Postloop.

Conclusion

I would certainly recommend Postloop to people looking to earn a supplementary income, young people who want to earn some money while practicing their writing skills or those who’s cost of living is low.

I would not recommend Postloop to someone with poor English skills or someone who’s native language is not English – unless they’re very fluent in English.

Residual income is when you continue to get paid after the work is done. If you refer new people to Postloop you will earn 20% of all points your referrals make. This can significantly boost your income.

If your rating falls below the average then you cannot withdraw your money. Therefore, I recommend withdrawing often or when you’re rating is falling. You can always increase your rating again by spending more time on each comment or post until your rating has passed the threshold.

Postloop Summary

Name: Postloop
Website: http://www.postloop.com/
Price: Free to join.
Owners: Royal Media, LLC, Ryan Royal
Overall Rank: 7 out of 10

Is Indiegogo a Scam or Legit? – Indiegogo Review

Is Indiegogo a scam or is it Legit?

Yes you can be scammed due to the lax rules, on the other hand you could fund a very legitimate and worthwhile cause or project. In return you may receive a discount if it’s a product, public acknowledgement or credit for your donation.

For non-profit organizations the rules are a little more strict. However for individuals wanting donations the site works partly on faith that the other person is honest and that they are who they say they are.

However in this article I will provide a review based on my own and others experience and show you how not to get scammed. I also explain.

What is Indiegogo and how does indiegogo work
The Pros and Cons of Indiegogo
How to tell if someone is legit
Tips & Tricks to Increase funding if you’re crowdfunding yourself
Some Indiegogo scams
Indiegogo Alternatives

How does indiegogo work?

Indiegogo is a crowdfunding site and is designed to be a launchpad for entrepreneurial ideas. It allows you to fund a project or venture by raising money from a large number of people who each contribute a relatively small amount.

Because there are millions of visitors to their site every month there’s a lot of potential visitors who could donate to your campaign.

Indiegogo was founded in 2008 in San Francisco and was one of the first companies to offer crowd funding. It’s designed to provide a quick and easy method to give people the resources and power to bring their ideas to life.

It can be a great platform for entrepreneurs, inventors, activists, artists and those who need charitable help. And yes, sometimes you also get the less worthy personal causes and the occasional scam. However there are ways to reduce the likelihood that you’ll become a victim.

Indiegogo doesn’t just offer crowdfunding, but also help with marketing and promotion. This helps you build a fanbase, collect feedback and promote your story.

It also offers fulfilment and manufacturing support — including partnerships with Amazon and Brookstone. You can also track your campaign performance in real time and communicate with contributors via the Indiegogo mobile app.

While they don’t provide as many safeguards against fraud as some crowdfunding sites, they do claim to provide fraud-detecting algorithms and community reporting tools.

Generosity

Generosity.com is also owned by Indiegogo and is targeted towards individuals and non-profit organizations, for charity, medical treatments and expenses, through fundraising.

However they don’t have any platform fees which means a larger percentage of your money goes to the cause. It’s been used from everything from helping cancer patients to pay bills to helping students with tuition.

However there’s also going to be a higher number of less worthwhile causes and scams.

For non-profit organizations they at least require legitimate information such as the non-profit’s official business name, Tax ID, Social Security Number.

All this information must be consistent and match and cannot be changed after donations begin. This at least makes it a little harder for fraudsters to scam you than individuals posing as people who need help.

The Pros

Flexible Funding

Unlike some crowdfunding sites that allow all-or-nothing, indiegogo offers two funding types: Flexible Funding (keep what you raise) and Fixed Funding (all-or-nothing). I recommend Flexible funding as you get to keep whatever you earn even if you don’t reach your goal. You can always create another goal or milestone later.

PayPal Security

While you don’t have to use PayPal funding, a project funded via PayPal is usually less risky as they’re more likely to offer refunds than other payment methods. This can give you peace of mind if you’re worried about funding a project that isn’t legit or wasn’t worth it. PayPal tends to side with payers rather than receivers of money. This means less risk for you.

Less Rules

If you’re the one receiving funds rather than providing them there’s fewer rules you need to follow compared to some other crowdfunding sites. This can make crowdfunding quick, easy and more streamlined. However it can also make it more open to fraud.

The Cons

Scams and Frivolous Causes

The Indiegogo site itself is not a scam, just some of the people who use the site. Some of the campaigns created will be for frivolous causes and illegitimate. You need to do a little research before funding a project.

Paypal Fees

If you do fund a project via PayPal you will be hit with the PayPal 3% to 5% fee which adds extra costs. However this is offset by the benefits mentioned above.

Indiegogo Fees

Indiegogo takes a 5% cut from contributors donations whether the project or venture is legitimate or not. However generosity.com which is also owned by Indiegogo does not have any platform fees.

How to not get Scammed

Strong social media presence

Indiegogo provide social media integrations and onsite messaging. If the person asking for funds has a strong social media presence and plenty of friends, plus they’re the same people depicted on their social media page, this is a good sign they’re the people they say they are. You could befriend them on Facebook or message them. Ask them about the project or venture.

This still doesn’t mean their cause or project is legit or will work out, but at least you have a better idea of who they are.

Their Story

Indiegogo allows people to tell their story and explain why they need funding – the problem and the solution. This is where you have to use some common sense and determine for yourself whether their story is credible. Someone who’s genuine will usually take the time to fill out this part explaining the why, how, where, who and when. They will provide details about themselves, their team and important events or people that shaped their project.

If they provide enough details, this can be used by yourself to do some extra research and discover whether it’s truly genuine or not.

Always try to find out who is running the project, campaign or business idea, because at least then it’s easier to hold them to account.

I will give you some specialized knowledge on how to do some quick research on a project or person before funding them. It’s a technique I used to find out whether someone was using stolen images from an unrelated source.

Google Reverse Image Search

Do they have a profile pic of themselves or the product? If so there can be a quick and easy method of discovering whether they are using a fake profile pic or product image they’ve copied from another site.

If they are legit then chances are the same profile pic on Indiegogo appears elsewhere on the web and reconfirms who they are.

How to do a Quick Google Reverse Image Search

Copy one or more of the images that appear on their profile page:

Go to images.google.com

Copy or upload the url of the image by clicking on the following icon:

Google will scan the entire web and find other sites that use exactly that same image. It’s a great tool.

Do they include a video and a prototype

If they have a video of the persons involved and they’re the same people depicted on their social media pages then this is a positive sign they’re genuine. Also does the video provide a prototype of the product explaining and detailing how exactly it will work.

How to Receive more Funding through Indiegogo

Make yourself Trustworthy

Indiegogo provide social media integrations. Add your social media account, even if it isn’t a business account related to the project or venture. Adding links to your social media account from your indiegogo profile page makes you appear more legitimate.

If you use Facebook don’t turn on all the privacy settings and let people know that you can message them via facebook. If you own a Facebook account that mentions the project or venture and you have plenty of friends or supporters this makes you appear more legit.

Campaigns shared on Facebook raise 200% more than other campaigns.
Sharing on Facebook is the most important thing you can do.
Friends and family will not only donate, but will likely help spread the word further
If your friend were raising funds for a project, wouldn’t you want to know?
Reach more people, faster
Your friends care

Write a Story

Indiegogo allows people to tell their story and explain why they need funding. This is the heart of your message and is where you explain exactly what the cause is for, presenting the problem and proposing the solution. It should be factual and come across as meaningful and authentic explaining right at the beginning who’s involved, what it entails and why you should support it.

Try and share a personal story that they can relate to. Make it compelling, engaging and explain the benefits of the business, invention, activity, event or cause. It’s also where you explain any perks or benefits to those who donate. For example a freebie, a discount when the product is released, or just credit.

At the end ask them to share your campaign with others using the social media icons at the bottom of the story and thank them for helping out.

• Put the most important information first.
• Tell a compelling story, and keep it short.
• Explain exactly why you are raising money.
• Share details about yourself, your team, and important events or people that shaped your project.
• Build trust with a specific budget breakdown.
• Spelling and grammar are important, so be sure to proofread.
• Break long text into sections with headings.
• Include pictures of your perks in the pitch text. They add personality and help break up lots of copy.

I recommend you get a friend or relative to read through your pitch and tell you honestly how it comes across.

Include Images and/and or a Video

Images paint a thousand words and can help quickly build a story and present a compelling reason to donate. It also ads authenticity. If you create a video consider including the people involved and make it compelling and entertaining. You could always pay a professional to help make it with you.

Be about 1 to 3 minutes long that gets to the point and expresses your goals and intentions.
Make the first ten seconds of your video count as first impressions are important.
Star in the video yourself to make it appear more genuine and personal.
Give contributors a sneak peek of the project, product or film.
Use a good voiceover and some music to set the tone for the video.
Invite your audience to join in your journey and make them feel a part of it.
End with a call to action as this increases conversions

Heres a good example:

Perks & Perk Strategy

• Make perk names and descriptions clear.
• Ensure you can fulfil perks and still complete your project.
• Call out the urgency of perk availability related to the length of your campaign. Use words like “limited edition,” “exclusive,” and “early-bird.”
• Consider your perk pricing strategy — offer a $25 perk and a $100 perk to incentivize funders with varying disposable incomes.
• Be reasonable with your perk prices. Offering a magnet and mug for $500 or a t-shirt for $1,000 wont encourage contributions.
• If you are running a Flexible Funding campaign, keep in mind perk fulfilment in the event you don’t hit your goal.
• Will you be able to fulfil backers even if you don’t meet your goal? If not, you should switch to Fix Funding
• Make sure to set clear Shipping Costs, by country and region, when creating your perks.

Update your Story if your Reach your Goal

If you reach your funding goal consider updating your story thanking those who have donated and post an update to reflect a new goal or objective and what the extra money will pay for

The Initial Funding is the most Important

The initial funding is most important because it gives you legitimacy. If new visitors can see that others have trusted you with their money they will be more willing to trust you with their money and donate themselves.

The initial funding gives your fundraiser campaign momentum and can be used for marketing and press releases.

Therefore you should try and raise funds from your existing community, friends and family first and you will then find it easier to build momentum and raise more money afterwards.

Break the project into smaller parts

If you have a large project or venture that requires a lot of funding consider breaking it down to more than one fundraising campaign. Proving your success with one will help build credibility for the next one.

Indiegogo Scams

Most of the scams you here about on Indiegogo didn’t set out to scam from the beginning but just didn’t succeed or were set back with so many delays the product never came to fruition.

Here are some of the most notorious and convincing scams to appear on Indiegogo.

Skarp Laser Razor

Originally started on Kickstarter it raised more than $1 million from thousands of backers, before moving to Indiegogo. It was supposedly going to revolutionize shaving by using a laser to remove hair rather than a razor.

This was until the company claimed that they didn’t have a working prototype and it appears that the project was based on pseudo-science and didn’t even have a working prototype.

Tip: Best not to fund a project if there is no working prototype

iBackPack

IBackPack seemed legit and maybe it was a real concept in the beginning. It was designed to charge, store and help provide hotspots for iPhones on the go and provide plenty of storage space.

They provided plenty of information, charts and diagrams and even plenty of videos. As a result it was very successful, raising more than $720,000 from Indieogogo alone, only for it to vanish, including their Videos.

Their excuse was that they ran into problems such as finding safe charger batteries but others claimed this was a lie.

FDN Films

FND films was a popular comedy group from Chicago who raised more than $75,000 from hundreds of investors. No Film was produced except ironically a movie called “It’s All Good” about Indie filmmakers who scammed money through crowdsourcing and blew it on partying.

Triton Gills

Triton Gills is another product funded through Indiegogo that was supposed to allow users to breathe underwater, by extracting breathable air from water. However this sounds too good to be true and it was. The creators admitted to misleading their backers after Digital trends exposed the pseudoscience behind the product

The good news is that Triton have re-funded around $900,000 to Indiegogo backers and admitted that they mislead their backers. However they still claim that they will eventually deliver on their promise.

Indiegogo has a 3 star rating from consumeraffairs

This isn’t bad considering that it tends to be those that are scammed who are most likely to write a review in the first place. If you still don’t trust indiegogo here are a few Indiegogo Alternatives.

Indiegogo Alternatives

GoFundMe
CrowdRise
Kiva
Kickstarter
Peerbackers
RocketHub
Giveforward
YouCaring.com
DonorsChoose.org

Please provide your own experiences below and any alternatives you recommend.

Indiegogo Summary

Name: Indiegogo
Website: https://www.indiegogo.com
Price: Free to sign up and create a campaign
Owners: Danae Ringelmann, Slava Rubin, Eric Schell
Overall Rank: 7 out of 10

Can I Do Affiliate Marketing on Facebook?

Does Affiliate Marketing on Facebook Really Work?

You can do affiliate Marketing on Facebook but it needs to be done the right way, Facebook has rules against spam. Also I wouldn’t recommend promoting your affiliate business using your personal account. You’re friends are unlikely to be your target audience – you just risk getting blocked by them. People generally don’t like being advertised to.

Free Facebook Marketing

Affiliate marketing done the free way often isn’t easy and usually involves joining multiple groups relevant to your niche and sharing posts on a regular bases. Again it’s best not to use your personal account, just in case you end up being accused of spamming and end up getting your account deactivated.

Also if you decide on the free method I don’t advise marketing directly and often – for example sending posts with affiliates links. You could perhaps offer something free, such as an eBook, and add the affiliate links within the eBook itself.

From my own experience Facebook does allow you to use affiliate links within your images, and post these in Facebook groups. However you will find that many groups are closed, not very active or require approval from the group’s administer before you can join. Some will allow you to post on their timeline, others require approval before your post is published and then there are groups that totally forbid any advertising or promotions. You may also find that many of the groups aren’t very active.

Create your own Facebook Group

You’re better off creating your own Facebook page which is targeted toward your niche audience. Unless someone is interested in your offers, this will prevent unwanted advertising and links landing directly in peoples feeds.

To get others to join your group you should provide value and foster that niche, treating it like a community, offering advice, useful information or tools. I’ve found sharing Free stuff to be a very effective way of marketing as people love freebies and they can be used as an incentive to pay for complete offers.

You should then occasionally provide affiliate products or services in a post, making sure the product or service you’re offering is of high value and very relevant to your audience.

One way I earn money online is using AdGate Media. You could provide a free offer such as a free eBook, digital product or offer and then use AdGate media to force visitors to complete a survey before they can access your free content. Only after they’ve completed the survey do they get access to the offer and you get paid around $1 for each survey completed. AdGate media creates a targeted campaign and has the highest pay-outs in the market! Check out the following video:

Paid Facebook Advertising

If you don’t have the patience or time to create value, you can always target a specific audience with paid Facebook advertising. This will enable you to target a particular location, age, gender, interest etc

Tips for Creating Ads on Facebook

Here are some tips to increase the conversion rate of your ad. They can make all the difference between making a profit and losing money.
1. I’ve found that images work better than purely text ads and images that include people tend to work best.

2. Know your target audience. Are they young or old, male or female, professional or non-professional. Make sure the ad is laser focused towards that group.

3. Once you know your target audience ask yourself what is the biggest problem your customer is going to solve by using the product? Provide the emotional benefits in the title. For example “Stop Losing Money… “, “Stop Wasting Time…. , “Give up your Day Job”, or “Never Fear …. Ever again”

4. The biggest hurdle against people purchasing your product is the fear of losing money. Consider providing a guarantee – for example “If you’re not Satisfied I’ll give you your Money Back”, or “Free 30 Day trial”. Or include a Free Bonus that comes with the product, which is itself of value.

5. If possible provide social proof. For example a testimonial, number of current users etc .

6. Creating a sense of urgency can encourage people to buy now. For example a discount that expires soon, or an offer that’s only temporary.

7. Use a call to action. People need to be told what to do. This is a trigger phrase such as Download our eBook Now, Claim your Spot, Try it for Free

8. Make sure you stay consistent. When the visitor clicks the Ad it should take them to a landing page that reinforces the ad with similar images, features, Bonuses, targeted toward the same audience.

Test different Ads

Some ads will be more effective than others and the only way to find out is to test, test test. Test both the ads themselves and also different audiences to see which audience is most responsive.

You should monitor your campaign closely to see if it’s effective. You may decide that your ad isn’t converting very well and requires a different approach, for example a different image or text which converts better, a special offer or it may just be the case that the niche just isn’t worth pursuing.

What is the Best Web Hosting for Blogs?

What is the best Hosting Site for My Blog?

This is a difficult question because it all depends on the number of visitors you receive, the size of your blog and how much you’re willing to pay.

However saying all of that, the best all round hosting provider I believe is SiteGround and this is the host I use to run this Blog/site.

There are many reasons why I chose SiteGround over other more popular hosts such as Hostgator, Bluehost, Dreamhost and Godaddy hosting. I’ve tried them all but settled with SiteGround. Here’s why:

The three most important factors to consider when choosing a host is Performance, Customer service and Pricing. SiteGround performs overall better results for all three.

Support

SiteGround offers much better value for money, particularly if you’re site receives higher traffic. It also provides brilliant customer support. In fact it’s the best I’ve received by any hosting provider. There hasn’t been a single occasion where my question didn’t receive a quick response from someone who knew what they were talking about. Plus unlike many host most customer service reps seem to be native English speakers – which can make communication a bit easier.

Performance

According to wpsitecare.com when tested for speed with 11 other top shared hosting providers, Siteground came second – second only to inmotion hosting. However Siteground provides caching for your wordpress blog which technically makes it the fastest.

This is because normally when someone visits your site, the server has to render each page normally. However caching means The next time you, or anyone else, visits your site, the server doesn’t need to do the processing and conversion to HTML. The server can cache in it’s memory parts of the site that do not change – such as the CSS.

Website caching is perhaps the biggest single technology to boost website speed and by doing so improve SEO (search engine optimization). By doing so it can increase conversions and user satisfaction if you’re selling services online.

By implementing caching, you aren’t just making your website faster, you’re also making it perform better — and equipping it to bear the burden of any sudden traffic spikes more efficiently.

This is why I think SiteGround is faster for higher volumes of users. Turning on Caching is as simple as logging into the control panel of SiteGround clicking a button.

Pricing

A webhost that includes such great performance for higher volume traffic and great customer service is something that usually carries with it a higher price tag. However at $2.75 SiteGround is well within the range of other more popular host who provide much less.

Site performance isn’t something they just handle for the more expensive plans, they make it a priority for everyone, even customers who are paying $2.75 a month.

Best Plantar Callus Removal Treatment

I seem to have a Plantar Callus on the Bottom of my foot. What are the Best Plantar Callus Removal Products?

To learn more about Plantar Calluses click on the links below. To find out what the best products are for treating a plantar callus scroll down.

[author-details=Emma Wilson]

[expand title=”What is a Plantar Callus?” trigclass=”omatic find-me”]
A plantar callus is a hard, rough area of the skin that forms on the bottom of the foot between your heel and your toes. They occur as a result of too much pressure being placed on one area of the foot leading to an abnormal weight distribution. This can make activities such as walking difficult or painful. The skin forming on the callus can be yellowish or grayish in appearance and be hard, dry and flaky.
[/expand]

[expand title=”What Causes a Plantar Callus?” trigclass=”omatic find-me”]
A plantar callus can be caused by a wide range of factors with the most common being ill-fitting shoes and prolonged walking or running. Anything that causes abnormal foot function over a sustained period of time. The skin then acts as a defense mechanism to prevent the skin from breaking down.

A complete list of factors causing a foot callus include:

• Excessive walking or running
• Not wearing shoes
• Poorly fitting shoes
• Socks with seams by the toes
• Athletic activities that result in frictional stress on the feet
• Bone deformities or prominence’s
• Flat feet
• Bunions
• Open heel shoes and footwear such as sandals or flip flops
• High-heeled shoes putting too much pressure on one area of the foot
• Oversupination or overpronation putting too much stress on the bottom of the foot.
• Previous fracture of the foot leading to an abnormal weight distribution
[/expand]

[expand title=”How are Plantar Calluses Diagnosed?” trigclass=”omatic find-me”]
Diagnosis of a plantar callus is made by a health expert or podiatrist who will take a biopsy or in most cases just diagnose on sight. If necessary an x-ray will be taken to determine the cause of the corn or callus. Sometimes the underlying bony structure within the foot is responsible for the corn or callus.

The podiatrist may also examine the way you walk and whether your footwear is responsible for the problem. A lot of foot problems including plantar calluses are caused by unnatural positioning of the feet, due to shoes such as high heels, sandals or flipflops.

A biopsy is necessary if it is not clear whether it is a skin infection caused by a virus, such as a wart as this can have a similar appearance to a foot callus.
[/expand]

[expand title=”What is the difference between Plantar Warts, Corns and a Plantar Callus?” trigclass=”omatic find-me”]

The main difference between plantar warts, plantar calluses and corns are in appearance and number.

Warts infections and calluses

Location
• Corns usually appear on top of the toes although sometimes also on the heel and the ball of the foot.
• Plantar calluses appear on the plantar region of the foot
• Plantar warts usually (but not always) occur on the heel or ball of the foot

Appearance
• Warts have a dry, crusty surface and contain small black dots, they often develop in clusters
• Corns are thick, hardened skin only and do not occur in clusters
• Plantar Calluses are thick, hardened flaky skin and do not occur in clusters

Infectious
• Warts are infectious and are often passed on when walking barefoot on moist surfaces
• Corns are not infectious
• Plantar Calluses are not infectious
[/expand]

[expand title=”When to Seek Medical Advice for a Plantar Callus?” trigclass=”omatic find-me”]

In most cases you can remove a plantar callus yourself using commercially available products. However if they continue to be painful or reoccur you should consult your doctor.

If you also suffer with poor circulation, loss of sensation or diabetes you should not try to get rid of the plantar callus yourself but seek medical attention due to a higher risk of infection.

A dermatologist or podiatrist can trim the callus without the need for any anesthesia. If the plantar callus is caused by foot deformities or prominence, the podiatrist can prescribe orthotics or perform surgeries to alleviate the cause of the problem.

Rarely do calluses lead to medical complications and medical attention. However you should visit the hospital or doctor if the following symptoms are present:

• There is redness that spreads to other areas of the foot
• Drainage or puss from the sore indicating infection or ulceration
• Significant pain and swelling around the callus
• Finger and toes change colour
• In the process of cutting or shaving the callus you cause it to bleed resulting in a possible infection
• Decaying tissue which could result in gangrene
• High Fever
[/expand]

[expand title=”How to Prevent a Plantar Callus?” trigclass=”omatic find-me”]
You can prevent most plantar calluses by simply wearing properly fitted shoes that are not too tight and do not produce too much pressure on the plantar region of the foot.

Shoes that are most likely to cause a plantar callus include high heels, sandals and flip flops. If your occupation requires that you wear high heeled shoes you can always walk to work in well fitted shoes and change them later.

Having both feet measured professionally and wearing properly fitted shoes will prevent most plantar calluses. You should not wear shoes that are too tight and should leave about half an inch between the front of the shoe and your longest toe.

Consider wearing shoes that contain a soft inner lining to reduce friction to the soul of the foot and try to avoid sharp movements that result in pressure being applied unevenly.
[/expand]

[expand title=”How to choose an Electric Callus Remover” trigclass=”omatic find-me”]
Electric Callus Removers work better than pumice stones, scrubs or grater-like foot files as they’re less painful to apply and require less effort. The downside is that they’re more expensive.

Here’s some things to look out for before purchasing an electric callus remover, based on feedback, reviews and my own experience with clients. I provide my own recommendation at the end that fulfills all of these criteria.

Rechargeable – If you’re camping and doing a lot of walking it isn’t uncommon to develop a callus. Electric callus removers can run out of charge quickly. If you’re on holiday and don’t have access to a plug socket you should consider a rechargeable electric callus remover with a good battery life. Don’t run out of battery after developing a painful callus!

Quartz crystals – For best results you should use the electric callus remover over multiple days spending a few seconds on the same area. With rollers made of quartz micro crystals less time is needed on the affected area which means less pain! Plus they’re designed for long term use and durability.

Money back Guarantee – Some companies offer a no questions asked money back guarantee. This way you wont be wasting your money! Be sure to find out what there returns policy is.

Refill Rollers – Buying from a better known brand means its easier to find rollers that fit your product.

Water resistant – While it isn’t recommended to submerge the product fully under water it should be resistant to water splashing. You don’t want the device to fail soon after purchasing it.

Positive Reviews – Be sure to check out the reviews. Amazon is a great place to start as they provide reviews, ratings and feedback on the product
[/expand]

Best Electric Callus Remover

Here’s a list of the top 3 callus removers we’ve tried and tested which fulfill the needs of those who have a plantar callus. The main criteria is to prevent infection that can result if a plantar callus is not removed correctly.

Electric callus removers need to be powerful enough to remove stubborn and hard to remove plantar calluses, but gentle enough not to cause pain or infection.

A plantar callus can often result when travelling on foot so it’s wise to consider whether a battery powered or electric powered callus remover is preferably depending on whether you have access to a power-source.

Electric Callus Remover and Shaver by Naturalico. Click “Read Review” to Expand.

Electric Callus Remover and Shaver by Naturalico

Our Rating: 9.2 out of 10

tick Battery Powered
tick Gentler than a manual file
tick Spins 40 times/sec
tick 360 Degree Roller
tick Rechargeable Battery
tick Quartz crystals
tick Water resistant

Check Price

Read Review

Naturalico callus remover

Recommended Plantar Callus Remover

What I really like the Electric Callus Remover by Naturalico as it has a two speed option whereby you can choose a higher or slower speed depending on the severity of the callus and the sensitivity of your skin.

It spins at 360 Degrees and at speeds of 40 turns per second, making it faster than other electric callus removers and at a very affordable price. You can pay for a one off pedicure which will cost more in many cases than the one-off cost of this electric callus remover so it’s great value for money!

Learn More

TECH SPECS
Spins per sec	40
Speed Modes	2
Roller heads	2
Water Resistant	Yes
Quartz crystals	Yes
Power type	Battery
Rechargeable	Yes
Battery Life	40 minutes
Warranty	one year warranty

The battery is rechargeable so you’ll save money over the long run and it won’t cost the environment when it comes to disposing of toxic batteries. The battery can be charged over a 1,000 times during its lifetime before you’ll need to buy another 1200 Mah battery.

The light indicators are useful for both when you’re charging the device or when you are using it. There is a red light indicator that will change color to green when the battery is fully charged. When you’re using the device you can see what you’re doing due to an LED light that illuminates the skin making it easier to see the callus and the rough patches of the skin.

The device is also easy to clean, water resistant and provides a cleaning brush and 2 grinding roller heads. Although the device is water resistant I would not recommend dropping the device in water.

You could pay for a manual file, razor or pumice stone which can leave your foot raw, sore and red. The Naturalico callus remover on the other hand will leave your feet smooth and provide a more gentle and effective way of removing dead skin and exfoliating calluses.

Check for Special Offers

own harmony callus remover

Pedicure Tools & Electric Callus Remover by Own Harmony. Click “Read Review” to Expand.

Pedicure Tools & Electric Callus Remover by Own Harmony

Our Rating: 9.4 out of 10

tick Battery Powered
tick More powerful than other Callus Removers
tick Spins 50 times/sec
tick 360 Degree Roller
tick Rechargeable Battery
tick Quarts crystals
tick Water resistant

Check Price

Read Review

Electric Callus Remover by Own Harmony

Recommended Plantar Callus Remover

If you have a stubborn callus that’s difficult to remove I recommend the more powerful Pedicure Electric Callus remover by Own Harmony.

It spins at 50 times per second making it more powerful than the Shaver by Naturalico and the roller is lined with Quartz cyrstals, making even the hardest calluses possible to remove.

Learn More

TECH SPECS
Spins per sec	50
Speed Modes	2
Roller heads	3
Water Resistant	Yes
Quartz crystals	Yes
Power type	Battery
Rechargable	Yes
Battery Life	45 minutes
Warrenty	6-months

The rechargeable battery means you don’t need to keep spending on batteries. After charge you get 45 minutes of use. This gives it an extra 5 minutes more time than the Shaver by Naturalico.

You also get a charger, clearning brush and protective cover with the device, plus an extra roller.

They provide a money back guarantee and can return the time within 90 days and receive your money back.

It boasts at being 3 times more powerful than other rechargeable brands and should not be used in the same area for more than 3-4 seconds. If you have a large callus I recommend using over multiple days to gradually remove the plantar callus.

Check for Special Offers

own harmony callus remover

PureNails 7-piece Professional Manicure & Pedicure System for Hands & Feet. Click “Read Review” to Expand.

PureNails 7-piece Professional Manicure & Pedicure System for Salon-quality Grooming of Hands & Feet At Home.

Our Rating: 9.3 out of 10

tick Electric Powered
tick Greater precision than other Callus Removers
tick Can also be used to smooth and polish nails and remove ingrown nails
tick Comes with 7 Attachments
tick 2 year Warranty

Check Price

Read Review

PureNails 7-piece Professional Manicure & Pedicure System

Recommended Plantar Callus Remover

This tool although more expensive does more than just remove plantar calluses. It can be used on other areas of your body such as to buff and smooth your nails on your feet and your hands.

This is an electric powered callus remover and foot/hand groomer. An advantage of electric powered callus removers is that they offer more power and consistency. A disadvantage is that they can’t easily be used when travelling and when you don’t have access to a power source.

Learn More

TECH SPECS
Speed Modes	2
Roller heads	7
Power type	Electric
Rechargeable	Not necessary
Battery Life	None (electric powered)
Attachmentse	7

It is built to salon standards and includes 7 different attachments for everything you need for grooming your hands or feet.

The 7 Interchangeable attachments include:
• Sapphire Filing Disk, Coarse (shortens thick nails easily)
• Sapphire Filing Disk, Fine (files nails with precision and safety)
• Sapphire Cone (removes dry skin and calluses)
• Felt Cone (smooths and polishes nails)
• Sapphire Callus Rasp (rapidly removes dry skin on heels and soles)
• Cylindrical Milling Cutter (grinds thick, lignified nails)
• Flame Milling Cutter (removes ingrown nails)

Check for Special Offers

PureNails 7-piece Professional Manicure & Pedicure System