How Facebook ranks content in 2023: Feed, Stories, Reels and more

Facebook has updated its resource explaining how it ranks content across its website, including Feed, Stories and Reels.

Meta has also announced new tools and features for improved transparency on the social network, which will better assist marketers.

Why we care. Marketers and advertisers need a strong understanding of how Facebook ranks content in order for them to make informed decisions about their campaigns to achieve maximum visibility and engagement.

What’s new? Meta published a number of new features designed to provide greater clarity on its ranking factors via its digital newsroom:

  • System Cards: Facebook has created 14 system cards to help marketers understand how Facebook uses AI to rank content and create feeds that are tailored to individuals. The cards also explain how individuals can control what they see.
  • ‘Why Am I Seeing This?’: Meta is expanding this feature to Facebook Reels in the coming weeks. It enables people to understand how their previous activity on the site has influenced what content AI is currently deeming relevant to them and subsequently serving on their accounts.
  • ‘Show more, show less’: Facebook plans to make this feature, which is currently available on all posts in Feeds, Videos and Reels via the three-dot-menu, more prominent.
  • Meta’s Content Library and API: Facebook plans to roll out a new suite of tools for researchers called Meta’s Content Library and API in the next few weeks. The new library is set to include data from public posts, pages, groups, and events on the social networking site.

System cards

Facebook’s new system cards are the biggest update to its resource center. This system consists of 14 cards:

  • Feed: Facebook uses AI to calculate a relevance score for about 500 posts and then ranks them in descending order. The system is built to show a variety of content in the feed, meaning a user shouldn’t see multiple video posts in a row.
  • Feed Ranked Comments: AI ranks comments in order of what it deems will be most relevant to each user. It does this by examining factors such as how popular other comments are and whether they have been published by someone in their network.
  • Feed Recommendations: AI will determine what content users are most likely to engage with by looking at factors such as groups they have recently joined and posts they have liked. It then uses this information to decide what content (e.g., posts, reels, live videos) to recommend.
  • Reels: AI selects what reels are served and in what order by determining what a user is most likely to be interested in. It makes these predictions by examining factors such as accounts the user has followed, liked or recently engaged with.
  • Stories: The AI system automatically shows Stories from people or pages by predicting what a user most likely to be interested in. The system also applies rules to make sure users are served a balanced mix of content in Stories.
  • People You May Know: AI tried to determine people who may be of interest by looking at factors such as people who are friends with a user’s friends or people that are in the same groups as the user.
  • Video: When users view and interact with Facebook Video, one of the underlying AI systems delivers a range of video types that may match their preferences. This content is found in the Video tab. It might include reels, music, gaming or shows. This is content users may be interested in from creators that they may not follow.
  • Marketplace: When a user views and interacts with Facebook, including Facebook Marketplace feed, one of the underlying AI systems recommends relevant Marketplace listings. For example, users can see items for sale in categories such as home goods, pet supplies and sporting goods. Users’ feeds might also include other recommendations, such as sellers and content that they may be interested in.
  • Notifications: AI chooses what notifications to send and ranks notifications in order of what it deems will be most relevant to the user. Meanwhile, previously viewed notifications are displayed in the order in which they were received.
  • Search: AI awards each potential search result a score relating to how relevant that content is to a user by examining factors such as content type. It will then serve users the results in order of relevancy based on this scoring
  • Groups Feed: AI automatically determines which posts appear in the Groups feed, and in what order, by scoring content by relevancy.
  • Individual Group Feed: AI predicts what content users are most likely to engage with and then ranks it according to relevancy in their individual group feed. Relevancy factors include what and whom users have recently followed, liked or engaged with.
  • Suggested Group: Facebook’s AI will look at factors such as groups a user’s friends are members of and related topics to products a user may have recently engaged with, then use this data to identify other groups that may be of interest.
  • Pages You May Like: AI will suggest pages to follow based on pages a user’s friends have recently liked or pages that might relate to products and posts the user has recently engaged with.

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Meta’s Content Library and API

Another big update to Facebook’s resource center is Meta’s new Content Library and API. The database is set to include data from:

  • Public posts
  • Pages
  • Groups
  • Events

People will be able to use the library to search, explore and filter on a graphical user interface or through a programmatic API.

However, under current guidelines, this tool has been set up specifically for researchers from qualified academic and research institutions pursuing scientific or public interest research topics. In order to gain access to this data, researchers will need to apply.

Personalizing the user experience

Facebook confirmed that in addition to providing greater transparency into its ranking factors, it also wanted to give users the tools to take back control of the content they see – for example, the ‘Why Am I Seeing This?” feature.

These tools give Facebook users the ability to shape their own experiences, and choose what what they do and don’t want to see. People can make changes by visiting their Feed Preferences on Facebook as well as through Settings.

What has Facebook said? Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of Global Affairs, shared details on the Meta digital newsroom about how AI is ranking content and how it’ll be easier for users to control what they see moving forward. He said:

  • “[Our AI] systems make it more likely that the posts you see are relevant and interesting to you. We’re also making it clearer how you can better control what you see on our apps, as well as testing new controls and making others more accessible. And we’re giving more detailed information for experts so they can better understand and analyze our systems.”
  • “Our AI systems predict how valuable a piece of content might be to you, so we can show it to you sooner. For example, sharing a post is often an indicator that you found that post to be interesting, so predicting that you will share a post is one factor our systems take into account.”
  • “As you might imagine, no single prediction is a perfect gauge of whether a post is valuable to you. So we use a wide variety of predictions in combination to get as close as possible to the right content, including some based on behavior and some based on user feedback received through surveys.”
  • “We hope by introducing these products to researchers early in the development process, we can receive constructive feedback to ensure we’re building the best possible tools to meet their needs”.

Deep dive: You can find a more detailed explanation of the AI behind content recommendations on the Meta AI blog. For more information on how AI uses signals to make predictions, you can visit Meta’s  Transparency Center.

The post How Facebook ranks content in 2023: Feed, Stories, Reels and more appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/how-facebook-ranks-content-2023-feed-stories-reels-428837

Google rolls out brand restriction settings to all advertisers

Google is broadly rolling out brand exclusions in Performance Max and broad match brand restrictions in Search to all advertisers.

Following successful pilots for both, the search engine announced that the move would help marketers with guiding Google AI and where their campaigns appear online.

Up until now, both features were only available in beta.

Why we care: Brand restrictions with broad match will help marketers increase the reach of their campaigns, while brand restrictions give marketers control over their Performance Max campaigns. By using these settings, advertisers can increase the reach of their campaigns and take steps to stop their ads from serving branded queries they may wish to avoid on Search.

What has Google said? A Google spokesperson told Search Engine Land:

  • “[Advertisers can] expand the reach of your brand campaigns with new brand restrictions for broad match. Broad match gives you the most relevant reach and conversions within your performance goals.”
  • “In the past, it may have been difficult to use broad match in campaigns with specific brand needs. That’s why we’re rolling out brand restrictions. This new feature will help you get the additional reach of broad match, while ensuring it is only matching to relevant brand traffic that you’ve specified.”

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Why now? The general rollout comes just two weeks after Google started testing its automatically created assets feature on Performance Max campaigns. Google launched the pilot after receiving feedback from marketers who wanted more control when it comes to brand traffic. Google decided to expand the initiative following a successful trial.

Go deeper: You can read Google’s Brand Settings for Search and Performance Max guide for more information.

The post Google rolls out brand restriction settings to all advertisers appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-restriction-settings-all-advertisers-428859

A guide to making money at boot sales

A guide to making money at boot sales

Welcome to the Frugal Column, where I aim to inspire you to live your best life without breaking the bank. You can follow my award-winning blog Shoestring Cottage and don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel. I am also the author of Extreme Frugality: Save Money Like Your Grandma.

Boot sale season is in full swing, offering opportunities to sell your old stuff and make money. If you are new to the concept, here is our guide to help you make the most of the boot sale season this summer.

Here are some lessons I have learned about how to sell your old stuff and make money at a boot sale.

Plan ahead

The key to making money at a boot sale is to be prepared and plan ahead. Find out where the busiest boot sales are and keep an eye on the weather forecast. A sunny day will bring out the hoards. Bank holidays are usually particularly busy.

Take a friend and arrive early

Go with a family member or friend. This will enable you to use the loo without leaving your stall unattended, and perhaps have a look around yourself. It makes setting up easier too, as you tend to have dealers descend on you as you are trying to unpack. Some people will take advantage and steal from you if you don’t have enough eyes on them, unfortunately.

Arrive as early as you can, so that you can get organised before the hoards descend and secure a good spot. I am always amazed at the number of people who turn up to sell hours later than many of their potential customers, some of whom may be on their way home already! If possible, pack your vehicle the night before for a quick departure.

Go equipped

A folding trestle table or two will be essential to display your wares, as well as a couple of deckchairs to sit on. It can be a long morning and you will be grateful for somewhere to rest your legs. If you have clothing to sell, a sturdy clothes rail is also a good idea. People are much more likely to buy items that are displayed properly, rather than screwed up on the floor. They are likely to pay more for them too.

A tarpaulin can be useful for laying out larger items or footwear.

If you don’t own any of these, someone you know will have them so beg or borrow.

Take a float

A float is a must, so start collecting coins in advance. You will find that people turn up with twenty-pound notes right at the beginning of the sale. This is irritating, but you don’t want to turn customers away because you are unable to offer them change.

Don’t forget to have separate cash for your stall fee as well, so that you don’t have to pay from your float.

Once you start raking in some profits, a money belt is the safest way to keep them safe.

Take supplies and sensible clothing

Take a good supply of food and drink, like a flask, sandwiches, chocolate and water. You can purchase things like cups of tea and burgers on-site, but there are often queues at the refreshment vans. 

It can be chilly early in the mornings, even in summer, so dress for a cold start. However, wear layers and take a sunhat and sunscreen so you don’t burn when the sun arrives. 

Offer reasonable prices

People expect to find bargains at boot sales, so don’t price unreasonably high to begin with. For example, you should charge somewhat less than a charity shop or eBay. 

I often hear sellers say things like ‘These are selling for £xx on eBay’ to justify a too-high price. The answer to that is that they should get them on eBay then, with all the fees and work involved in listing, photographing and packaging! If you have more valuable things to sell, then a boot sale may not be the place to get the best price.

Don’t undercharge either though; you want your efforts to be profitable. I usually aim reasonably high at the beginning of a sale, but drop prices if things don’t shift fairly quickly. It is also worth negotiating with the hagglers or offering a bulk price – £2 each or £5 for three on clothing, for example.

I occasionally find that labelling more expensive items is helpful, but putting prices on everything is time-consuming and not that useful. People will happily ask for a price and this allows you to get a feel for what they are willing to pay and be flexible on the day.

Other things to consider

Take a supply of bin bags to clear up your unsold stuff at the end. You may want to deliver it straight to a charity bin. You are obliged to clear up your rubbish too.

Occasionally, charities come around to collect up any unsold wares, so it is worth asking the organisers if this is an option.

If you have some spare carrier bags, they can be useful to take. If customers can carry more they may well buy extra!

Once you have these basics in place you can sell your old stuff and maximise your profits. After that, just enjoy the process. It’s fun chatting to customers and to the neighbouring stallholders, so you can have a bit of entertainment whilst making some extra cash.

 

The post A guide to making money at boot sales appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/a-guide-to-making-money-at-boot-sales

Aldi prices dropped in the last year

Aldi’s prices dropped in the last year 

Food inflation has soared in the last 12 months, with a weekly grocery shop squeezing the purse strings more and more. Food inflation currently stands at a staggering 14.6% – the highest it has been for decades. 

It feels like every time we enter the supermarket, prices have shot up even more. But interestingly, despite this, one supermarket’s prices have actually gone down in the last year. 

According to Trolley.co.uk, the average prices at Aldi dropped since 2022. Although by just one pence (0.2%), it is still a hugely interesting figure. The grocery price index (GPI), compiled by Trolley.co.uk, highlights changes in popular grocery prices. It’s created by connecting monthly shopper trends with the site’s grocery price database, monitoring the popularity and prices of 51,221 products continuously – averaging 297,099 prices since Jun 2022.  

Albrecht family

Monthly average prices across the last year

However, the fact prices have fallen by such a miniscule amount at the discount supermarket, whilst prices elsewhere have soared, shows consumers are still combatting huge costs when it comes to their food shop. 

The Co-op has seen prices increase on average by 6.7%, with Sainsbury’s following closely behind with increases of 6.5% since June 2022. 

Waitrose and Ocado, often seen as high-end supermarkets, saw the lowest increases. Waitrose saw an average price increase of 3.4%, whilst Ocado managed to keep increases low at 0.5%. 

Percentage price rises of the UK’s major supermarkets between June 2022 and June 2023 are as below: 

  • Co-op: 6.7% 
  • Sainsbury’s: 6.5% 
  • Iceland: 7.6% 
  • Morrisons: 5.4% 
  • Asda: 1.8% 
  • Tesco: 1.7% 
  • Waitrose: 3.4% 
  • Ocado: 0.5% 
  • Aldi: -0.2% 

Which groceries have increased the most in the past year? 

Basics such as butter and milk have seen their costs rise on average by 28 pence and 22 pence respectively. Meat and poultry have also seen high increases in the last year, with chicken breasts rising 40 pence and eggs 41 pence. 

Despite the notorious lockdown loo-roll shortage being long over, toilet tissue saw a 36 pence increase. Light olive oil saw a staggering increase of £1.28 – an increase of 31.1 per cent.  

Which items decreased in the last year? 

Traditionally pricier items such as Bourbon and Manuka Honey saw price decreases. On average, Manuka Honey fell in price by 58 pence – a reduction of 2.8 per cent. Bourbon saw a decrease of around 1.9 per cent – around 48 pence. 

For those who like a tipple or two, spirits, prosecco, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon all saw a decrease in price since June 2022.  

The post Aldi prices dropped in the last year appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/aldi-prices-dropped-in-the-last-year

Aileen P. Charland Explores the Role of Emotional Intelligence in Developing Effective Leaders

Home Business Magazine Online

Emotional intelligence, or Emotional Quotient (EQ), refers to recognizing and managing one’s emotions and those of others. With emotional intelligence, individuals can build meaningful relationships, communicate effectively, and make informed decisions. These skills are critical in the workplace, particularly for individuals in leadership positions. In this listicle, Aileen P. Charland will explore the role of emotional intelligence in developing influential leaders and why it is a crucial ingredient for success.

1. Enhances Communication

Effective communication is required for any successful organization. Leaders must possess excellent communication skills that enable them to clearly and concisely convey their vision and strategies. Emotional intelligence enhances communication skills, allowing leaders to listen actively, understand their team members, and respond appropriately to questions and concerns. This level of understanding helps leaders create an open and transparent work environment, increasing trust between leaders and their teams.

2. Promotes Collaboration

By fostering a culture of collaboration, teams can work more efficiently and improve overall performance. Emotional intelligence promotes collaboration by creating a safe and inclusive work environment that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion. Leaders who possess emotional intelligence will encourage teamwork, listen to the diverse opinions of their team members, and promote discussion to achieve a common goal. By bringing together various individuals, leaders can create a broader range of solutions to problems and ultimately build a stronger team.

3. Supports Conflict Resolution

Conflict is inevitable in any organization, and it’s essential to have a leader who can demonstrate a calm and rational approach to conflict resolution. Emotionally intelligent leaders possess the skills to identify the underlying cause of the conflict, understand the emotions of all parties involved, and negotiate a solution that meets the needs of everyone. These skills help leaders to navigate conflicts effectively, improving employee morale and resulting in a more productive team.

4. Drives Motivation

Leaders with emotional intelligence can boost their team’s motivation levels by creating authentic connections with team members. Understanding teammates’ needs, desires, and values helps leaders motivate them more effectively. By leveraging emotional intelligence, leaders can inspire their teams to work harder, challenge themselves, and strive for success. Motivated employees are productive and passionate about their work, bringing more excellent value to the organization.

5. Results in Better Decision Making

Effective decision-making is critical to success in any business. Leaders with emotional intelligence can use their skills to make more informed decisions beyond personal biases and emotions. By understanding the perspective of others, considering the emotional impact of their choices, and weighing the pros and cons of different solutions, leaders can make the best decisions for their team and the organization, leading to better results.

6. Promotes Empathy

Generally, empathy refers to the capacity to understand and share the feelings of others. The heart is increasingly crucial in today’s work environment, as leaders must be able to relate to the experiences and emotions of their team members. Emotionally intelligent leaders foster empathy in their team members by taking the time to understand their emotional needs and offering support, guidance, and encouragement. Through compassion, leaders can enhance their team members’ engagement, loyalty and create a more positive work environment.

7. Facilitates Change Management

Successful change management requires more than just a change in process or structure. It involves addressing employee concerns, managing reactions and emotions, and building support for the difference. Leaders who possess emotional intelligence can help facilitate change by maintaining open communication, reassuring their teams, and addressing concerns. These skills allow leaders to effectively guide their teams through changes, resulting in a smoother transition and tremendous success.

8. Establishes Trust

Trust is essential for any successful organization, and emotionally intelligent leaders are better equipped to build trust with their teams. Leaders who demonstrate emotional intelligence show that they understand the needs of their team members, respect their opinions and are genuinely interested in helping them succeed. This level of understanding builds trust between a leader and his team, increasing engagement, motivation, and collaboration.

9. Develops Future Leaders

A succession plan is essential for any organization, and emotionally intelligent leaders can help develop future leaders by mentoring high-performing employees and helping them reach their goals. Emotionally competent leaders typically possess excellent communication skills, enabling them to give constructive feedback and provide guidance in a supportive way. This type of leadership helps create an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect, which can help develop future leaders better equipped to lead with empathy and understanding.

10. Improves Overall Performance

Emotionally intelligent leaders are better equipped to create a positive work environment and drive team morale, resulting in improved performance. By understanding the needs of their team members, inspiring collaboration, and promoting empathy, emotionally intelligent leaders can motivate their teams to achieve tremendous success. Ultimately, this type of leadership results in higher satisfaction levels and improved organizational performance.

Final Thoughts

Aileen P. Charland strongly believes emotional intelligence is vital in developing influential leaders. The ability to recognize, understand and manage emotions, and those of others, is critical to enhancing communication, promoting collaboration, supporting conflict resolution, driving motivation, creating better decision-making opportunities, encouraging empathy, and facilitating change management. In today’s business environment, where diversity, inclusion, compassion, and collaboration are essential, emotional intelligence is necessary to achieve success and move the organization toward the desired goals.

The post Aileen P. Charland Explores the Role of Emotional Intelligence in Developing Effective Leaders appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/management/leadership/aileen-p-charland-explores-role-emotional-intelligence-developing-effective-leaders/

Moving Your Business from In-Office to Remote Work: A Guide to Successful Transition

Home Business Magazine Online

In recent years, remote work has gained significant popularity, allowing businesses and employees to work from anywhere. Whether you’re looking to embrace the benefits of remote work or transitioning due to unforeseen circumstances, moving your business from an in-office setup to a remote work environment requires careful planning and execution. To ensure a successful transition, consider the following steps and strategies.

Assess Your Business Needs and Goals

Begin by evaluating your business’s specific needs and goals for remote work. Determine which roles and tasks can be effectively performed remotely and which ones require physical presence. Consider the communication and collaboration tools necessary to maintain seamless operations and identify potential challenges that may arise during the transition.

Develop a Remote Work Policy

Create a comprehensive remote work policy that outlines expectations, guidelines, and procedures for remote employees. This policy should cover a plan for moving out of the office, work hours, communication channels, equipment and technology requirements, data security protocols, and performance evaluation criteria. Clearly communicate this policy to all employees and provide the necessary training and resources to ensure a smooth transition.

Invest in the Right Technology and Infrastructure

Remote work heavily relies on technology and infrastructure to enable seamless communication and collaboration. Assess your current technology stack and determine if any upgrades or additions are required. Invest in reliable internet connectivity, video conferencing tools, project management software, and secure data storage solutions. To perform their tasks efficiently, provide remote employees with the necessary hardware, such as laptops, monitors, and other equipment.

Enhance Communication and Collaboration

Effective communication is the backbone of remote work. Establish clear channels for communication, such as email, instant messaging platforms, and video conferencing tools. Encourage regular check-ins, team meetings, and one-on-one discussions to maintain open lines of communication. Foster a collaborative environment by utilizing project management tools that allow teams to share files, track progress, and collaborate on projects in real time.

Prioritize Data Security

When transitioning to remote work, ensuring data security becomes paramount. Implement robust security measures, such as encryption protocols, virtual private networks (VPNs), and multi-factor authentication, to protect sensitive information. Train employees on data security best practices, including properly handling confidential data and using secure networks and devices.

Establish Performance Metrics and Feedback Mechanisms

Remote work requires a focus on outcomes and results rather than physical presence. Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and set clear expectations for remote employees. Implement performance-tracking systems that enable regular feedback, progress evaluation, and goal alignment. Regularly review performance metrics and provide constructive feedback to ensure accountability and productivity.

Foster a Remote Work Culture

Building a strong remote work culture is crucial for employee engagement and morale. Encourage virtual team-building activities, knowledge-sharing sessions, and social interactions through online platforms. Emphasize work-life balance and promote well-being initiatives to support remote employees’ overall happiness and productivity.

Provide Ongoing Support and Training

Moving to a remote work model requires ongoing support and training. Ensure that employees have access to technical support and resources to troubleshoot any technology-related issues. Provide training sessions on remote work best practices, time management, and effective communication. Encourage continuous learning and professional development opportunities to empower employees in their remote roles.

Moving your business from an in-office setup to a remote work environment can be a transformative and rewarding experience. By carefully considering your business needs, implementing the right technology and policies, fostering effective communication and collaboration, prioritizing data security, and nurturing a remote work culture, you can successfully transition your business to a remote work model.

The post Moving Your Business from In-Office to Remote Work: A Guide to Successful Transition appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/businesses/success-tips/moving-business-from-in-office-to-remote-work-guide-successful-transition/

LINKED Teaches Entrepreneurs How to Run a Business from Home

Home Business Magazine Online

It is easy to launch a home-based business. In fact, statistics show that over 40 percent of entrepreneurs do it for $5,000 or less.

However, making that business succeed is much more difficult. Studies show that 20 percent of small businesses will not survive the first year, and by the five-year mark, nearly 50 percent have failed.

One of the best ways to beat the odds and launch a successful, long-term business is to learn from a mentor who has proven that he or she knows what it takes. Sarah Otto is one such mentor.

Training entrepreneurs through LINKED

Otto is the founder of LINKED, a leading provider of training for entrepreneurs in the permanent jewelry industry. The training Otto provides gives her students the skills and materials they need to make as much as $350 per hour selling permanent jewelry.

“Permanent jewelry is not the type of business that takes tens of thousands of dollars to launch,” Otto explains. “The barriers to entry are incredibly low, and getting it going happens very quickly. I have seen entrepreneurs with very little business experience have amazing success by setting up tables at spots or events right in their neighborhoods, like boutiques, coffee shops, farmer’s markets, or concerts.”

Otto’s training is especially valuable because it happens completely online. All of the classes are virtual, which means entrepreneurs can access them whenever and wherever it works best for them. Students, moms, and those working a 9-to-5 job will find LINKED training to be a valuable tool for getting the skills they need to launch an entrepreneurial lifestyle.

Those who participate in the training courses get all the knowledge and skills they need to prepare the jewelry and market their new business. They also get all the tools and materials they need.

“My course gives you everything you need to start your very own, independent permanent jewelry business,” Otto explains. “It also gives you lifetime access to business support, which means we’ll be here to help you figure out problems that pop up along the way.”

Understanding the allure of permanent jewelry

Permanent jewelry is a relatively recent trend in the fashion world. As the name suggests, it is jewelry that is not meant to be removed. The bracelets, necklaces, anklets, and other pieces of permanent jewelry are secured through electrical welding rather than by a clasp.

“When people first hear about it, they have the impression that we are soldering the jewelry,” Otto says, “but it is welding that is used to secure the jewelry. It is a completely safe and painless process during which the welding instrument, jewelry, and customer’s skin all remain cool.”

LINKED Permanent Jewelry Training
LINKED Permanent Jewelry Training

Fashion experts believe people enjoy permanent jewelry because they see it as a sign of commitment. Otto agrees, saying it can be a serious bonding experience. She says she sees a lot of people get “zapped” — the term used to describe the process used to weld the jewelry — in groups.

“Permanent jewelry becomes a powerful memory for husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, best friends, or dating couples who take home a long-lasting, tangible memento of their time together,” Otto says.

Otto also says the jewelry is extremely convenient because it does away with the problem of forgetting to put on jewelry before leaving the house. “Permanent jewelry works every day,” she says. “You don’t need to remember to put it on because it is already there.”

Creating more than memories

For Otto, training people on permanent jewelry is not the end goal. The true mission of LINKED is to help people from all walks of life develop and use their skills to create financial freedom. What she really loves is seeing female entrepreneurs have true, sustainable success by becoming empowered as entrepreneurs. LINKED has allowed her to empower numerous women to achieve success, and she hopes to continue to inspire more.

The post LINKED Teaches Entrepreneurs How to Run a Business from Home appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/success-stories-lifestyles/linked-teaches-entrepreneurs-how-to-run-business-home/

Inkjet vs Laser Printers – What Should I Get?

Home Business Magazine Online

Choosing the right printer for your home office can be a daunting task, especially with the multitude of options available in the market. Two popular choices that often come up are inkjet printers and laser printers. Both types have their strengths and weaknesses, so it’s essential to understand their differences before making a decision. In this article, we will explore the key features of inkjet and laser printers to help you determine which one suits your needs best.

1. Print Quality

When it comes to print quality, inkjet printers are renowned for their ability to produce vibrant and detailed colour prints. The reason behind their superior quality lies in the way they work. Inkjet printers use liquid ink sprayed through tiny nozzles onto the paper, resulting in precise colour reproduction. On the other hand, laser printers excel in producing sharp and crisp black-and-white prints. They use a toner that is fused onto the paper through a heating process, offering excellent text clarity and precise lines.

2. Speed and Volume

If speed is a priority for your home office printer, then laser printers take the lead. They are designed to handle high-volume printing tasks efficiently and deliver pages at a much faster rate compared to inkjet printers. Laser printers are ideal for businesses that require quick turnaround times or frequently print large documents. However, if your printing needs are more moderate, such as occasional documents or photographs, inkjet printers are more than capable of meeting those requirements.

3. Cost Considerations

Cost is an important factor to consider when deciding between inkjet and laser printers. In terms of upfront costs, inkjet printers typically offer a more budget-friendly option when compared to laser printers. However, it’s worth noting that ink cartridges can be expensive to replace, especially for high-quality photo prints. If you plan on printing a significant number of pages regularly, the cost per page of inkjet printing can quickly add up. Laser printers, on the other hand, have a higher initial cost but offer more economical long-term printing. The toner cartridges in laser printers have a higher page yield and are relatively cheaper per page.

4. Versatility

When it comes to versatility, inkjet printers have an edge. They can handle a wide range of print media, including glossy photo paper, textured stationery, and even fabric transfers. This flexibility makes them an excellent choice for creative projects or printing marketing materials. Laser printers, while more limited in terms of media options, excel in producing professional-looking documents such as reports, spreadsheets, and business correspondence.

5. Maintenance and Reliability

Maintenance and reliability are crucial factors, especially for a home office printer. Inkjet printers require regular use to prevent ink from drying out and clogging the nozzles. Additionally, occasional printhead cleaning may be necessary to maintain print quality. Laser printers, on the other hand, are more reliable in terms of infrequent use. They have fewer moving parts, and toner doesn’t dry out like ink, making them less prone to maintenance issues.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, choosing between an inkjet printer and a laser printer depends on your specific needs and preferences for your home office. If you prioritize high-quality colour prints and versatility, an inkjet printer may be the right choice for you. However, if speed, volume, and cost efficiency are your primary concerns, a laser printer would be a more suitable option. Assess your printing requirements, budget, and long-term usage to make an informed decision. Ultimately, investing in the right printer will ensure that your home office runs smoothly and efficiently.

So, whether you decide on an inkjet or a laser printer, ensure that it caters to your home office printing needs, providing the reliability and functionality you require.

The post Inkjet vs Laser Printers – What Should I Get? appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/home-office/office-equipment/inkjet-vs-laser-printers/

Google accused of mis-selling ads on third-party websites for years

Google has allegedly been mis-selling video ads to marketers for the last three years.

Advertisers working for small businesses, Fortune 500 companies and even the U.S. Federal Government have all been impacted, with the Google violating its own standards approximately 80% of the time, according to an Adalytics study.

Dozens of marketers expressed their regret over purchasing Google’s True View ad product as a result.

Why we care. Advertisers have been paying premium prices for a service that Google has allegedly failed to deliver, costing them up to billions of digital ad dollars. After reading the reactions from advertisers impacted by the substandard service they received from Google, it may make other marketers think twice before deciding to place ads with the Google Video Partners program.

How does True View work? True View is Google’s primary video ad product, which is featured on YouTube as well as third-party websites and apps. Users can skip True View ads after five seconds, but marketers only have to pay for the product when a video watches at least 30 seconds (or the length of the ad if it’s less than 30 seconds). Marketers can only be charged if their ad also plays with audio and isn’t activated accidentally by a user scrolling a page.

Google charges high prices when ads tick all of these boxes and the deal is brokered through a program called Google Video Partners.

In exchange for coughing up these expensive fees, advertisers are promised:

  • Ads will play on high-quality sites.
  • Ads will play before a page’s main video content begins.
  • Ads will play only with the audio on.
  • Ads play only after viewer initiation.
  • They will only have to pay for ads that aren’t skipped.

Has Google broken its promise to advertisers? Google has been accused of violating its own standards the majority of the time while still charging marketers a premium fee, according to the Adalytics report.

Google was accused of misleading advertisers by:

  • Playing premium ads without the promised audio.
  • Placing ads in small videos in low-value places such as the side of a page’s main content.
  • Placing ads in automatically-played videos.
  • Placing ads on websites that don’t meet Google’s standards for monetization.

Several dozen advertisers claimed they would never have purchased ad space through the Google Video Partners program had they been made aware of these issues in advance. Advertisers also said they were shocked and didn’t want their ads to play without audio, and that doing so contradicted their understanding of the ad space they had purchased.


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What Google is saying. Marvin Renaud, Google’s Director of Global Video Solutions, issued a statement to deny the claims on the Google Ads & Commerce Blog shortly after the Adalytics report was published. He said:

  • “Brands care deeply about where their ads are placed and so do we. A recent report by a third party used unreliable sampling and proxy methodologies and made extremely inaccurate claims about the Google Video Partner (GVP) network.”
  • “The report wrongly implies that most campaign spend runs on GVP rather than YouTube. That’s just not right. The overwhelming majority of video ad campaigns serve on YouTube.”
  • “Video advertisers can also run ads on GVP, a separate network of third-party sites, to reach additional audiences, if it helps them meet their business objectives. While only a small percentage of video ads appear on GVP, it’s effective: we’ve seen adding GVP to YouTube campaigns increases reach by over 20% for the same budget.”
  • “Ad inventory across the Google Video Partner network is more than 90% viewable. This is well above industry norms. The claims in the third-party report simply aren’t right. Put simply, over 90% of ads on GVP are visible to people across the web — and advertisers are only paying for ads when they are viewed.”
  • “In addition to the high bar we set on YouTube, we have strict policies that all third-party publishers, including Google Video Partners, must follow. We actively enforce these policies. Our policies prohibit made for advertising (MFA) content. To give you a sense of how serious we are about this, in 2022 we stopped serving ads on more than 143,000 sites for violating our policies.”
  • We offer third-party validation for ads running on Google Video Partners content. We partner with outside organizations to help us ensure publishers are complying with our policies. Google Video Partners supports independent, third party verification from DoubleVerify, Integral Ad Science, and Moat for viewability and invalid traffic. These partnerships, combined with the work we already do internally to enforce our policies, give advertisers reassurance about their ad placements.”

Who is Adalytics? Adalytics is a crowd-sourced advertising performance optimization platform that was set up to review and improve the digital advertising landscape. The company conducted this research by investigating campaigns for more than 1,100 brands that achieved billions of ad impressions between 2020 and 2023.

Deep dive. You can learn more about Adalytics’ investigation by reading its report, Did Google mislead advertisers about TrueView skippable in-stream ads for the past three years? You can also read Google’s ‘Transparency and brand safety on Google Video Partners‘ statement which was made in response to the report.

The post Google accused of mis-selling ads on third-party websites for years appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-accused-misselling-ads-third-party-websites-428777

Google recommends importing GA4 conversion data into Google Ads

Google has urged marketers to import their web and app conversions from Google Analytics 4 into Google Ads.

Advertisers that have a linked Google Ads account may have already received a message advising of the new import conversions recommendation.

If your GA4 account is eligible for the import, a card will likely appear at the top of the Advertising snapshot page, as a card on the Home page, or as a card on the Insights Hub page.

Why we care. Importing the data will make life easier for marketers as they can access their web and app conversion in Google Ads, meaning they don’t need to revert back to GA4. It will also help advertisers to better optimize bids which will potentially result in improved performance.


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How does conversion data help marketers? Tracking conversions is how marketers understand which of their ads are actually resulting in sales. So it’s essential they have easy access to this data to make adjustments to campaigns where necessary, such as amending keywords, budgets, bidding and more. This ultimately results in maximizing profits and cutting costs in Google Ads.

Deep dive. To get the most useful and accurate data and take advantage of Google’s latest features, read the search engine’s GA4 Recommendations guide.

The post Google recommends importing GA4 conversion data into Google Ads appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-recommends-importing-ga4-conversion-ads-428801