GA4 ‘auto-migration’: Here’s why you should opt out

Google will start automatically configuring your Universal Analytics properties to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for you. But you actually do not want to do this for many reasons.

Is your GA4 already set up? You might still be subject to “auto-migration.” Read on for more details about it and how to opt out.

Making the switch to GA4

On February 9, Google sent an email saying they will soon start configuring Google Analytics 4 for users starting in March (as early as this week).

GA4 automigration email

This means that if you have a Universal Analytics (UA) property but haven’t migrated to GA4, Google will create a GA4 property for you based on many of the settings you have in UA, such as your goals, audiences, Ads links, users, and more.

But what is Google’s definition of “haven’t migrated”?

Scenario 1: You have a UA property and have not set up a GA4 property. The UA property is not opted out of the auto-migration setting.

This will be a common scenario for people who haven’t had the time or don’t want to set up GA4. This is essentially the “long tail” of customers Google wants to keep on GA.

If you just didn’t have the time or desire to do the migration, perhaps this isn’t a bad option for you. But be aware that your data may look quite different. (More details on how the migration works below.)

Scenario 2: You have created a GA4 property but haven’t linked it to a UA property. Google doesn’t know it’s the same as your UA property and doesn’t consider this migrated.

Have you seen this popup modal in GA4? Likely yes, because it pops up every time you log in or refresh.

GA4 property migration popup

What does linking do? It tells Google that you have created a GA4 property tied to a UA property.

Will that stop Google from automigrating you?

Not necessarily.

That will depend on how much of the GA4 setup assistant you have completed (more on that in a moment).

Scenario 3: You have created a GA4 property and linked it to a UA property but haven’t completed all GA4 Setup Assistant steps.

If you’re not opted out of migration in UA, then Google will start filling in the gaps for you in this scenario.


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Using the GA4 Setup Assistant

The GA4 Setup Assistant is a 12-step tool that helps you track your GA4 migration progress.

It has some pretty useful tools included, such as help with audience migration and a more straightforward process for Google Ads linking.

GA4 Setup Assistant

Ads linking

Generally, you must have dual admin access, meaning you must be an admin on both the Analytics and Ads accounts to link. It can be frustrating and time-consuming to ensure you have the right access levels.

The setup assistant tool references the links you have in UA and does not require admin access to Ads to link. This is great if you are having someone not typically involved in Ads helping you migrate, such as a contractor or agency.

GA4 Setup Assistant Google Ads linking

Once you click Import from Universal Analytics, a new screen shows you all of the Ads links you have set up in UA.

You can check or uncheck the boxes for what you want to import to GA4 and then hit Import selected Ads links. It’s as easy as that.

GA4 import Ads links

Conversions

The tool will reference your conversions in UA and check if they are eligible (i.e., event or destination goals) for migration to GA4.

Goals using other goal types or regex are not currently eligible for migration, but maybe in the future.

GA4 Setup Assistant conversions

This migration screen is similar to the Ads linking screen. Check the eligible goals you want to migrate to GA4 conversions. Ineligible goals will be grayed out.

You have the option to change the name of the conversion. I recommend leaving it in the underscore format.

GA4 import existing goals

Users

This one isn’t as flashy, but if you have a lot of users with access to your UA property that you want to copy to GA4, it may be the most helpful tool.

When you select Import from Universal Analytics, it will send you to a help center article detailing the process.

You will need to use a Google Sheets Add-on tool for this. It sounds like work, but it’s quite quick and painless. The help center article gives great step-by-step instructions on how to use it.

Why some users might want to opt out

Back to the warnings I have in store for you…

Let’s say you fall into Scenario 3 (that is, you have created a GA4 property and linked it to a UA property but haven’t completed all GA4 Setup Assistant steps).

Whatever you have not marked as complete in the GA4 Setup Assistant tool will be done for you.

This is where, in my opinion, things can get pretty sketchy fast.

GA4 Setup Assistant - Incompletea

Yes, I just told you the Setup Assistant has some useful tools. But they are helpful because you can control the migration yourself.

For all 12 steps in the Setup Assistant, you must mark them Complete even if you have not done them – unless you want Google to do it.

This is especially important for these seven steps:

  • Turning on Google Signals.
  • Setting up Conversions.
  • Defining Audiences.
  • Managing Users.
  • Linking to Google Ads.
  • Bidding to GA4 conversions.
  • Targeting ads to GA4 audiences.

Let’s break a few of these down:

Linking to Google Signals

Google Signals is required for remarketing/retargeting with Google products. But some countries may have legal implications or restrictions, so I’d suggest checking with your legal team to be sure.

Managing Users

I just said how much I like this feature. But with great power comes great responsibility. You should check the access being granted, as there may be users you do not want to migrate. If you let Google do it, they’ll migrate everyone from UA.

Bidding to GA4 conversions

This is where the real danger begins. If you let Google migrate your conversions for you, and you haven’t checked them, you’re taking their word that you are still considering the actions from UA that they could migrate to be important.

Then, if you let Google bid to those conversions in Ads, they are changing the goals from UA to GA4 conversions that you are spending real money against.

If you didn’t set up those conversions, you risk an automated process spending your money in a way you may not want or that is not optimized toward your current goals.

Targeting Ads to GA4 Conversions

Same concerns as above. You would have Google migrate audiences for you, hoping they are good enough, and then bid toward them with your money. Your oversight is taken out of the process.

So what will migration look like?

For some things, like conversions, they may append a UA_ to the name of the conversion in GA4 to indicate that it came from UA. Other things may not have any indication of where they came from.

Convinced? Here’s how to opt out

So are you convinced yet that you should opt out of automigration? Here’s how.

In your Universal Analytics account, go to Admin > Property column > GA4 Setup Assistant.

Scroll to the bottom and toggle off the switch for “Automatically set up a basic GA4 property.”

GA4 automigration opt-out

Opting out will prevent the UA property from being migrated.

If you don’t opt out but are linked (that popup modal we keep getting), then you will need to Mark as complete all 12 steps (or whatever you don’t want automigrated) in the Setup Assistant in your GA4 property.

If you do not opt out or do not mark all as complete, Google might migrate some or all of your UA property to a GA4 property starting as early as this week.

The more complicated your UA property, the later it will be migrated since they’ll likely start with simpler properties.

The post GA4 ‘auto-migration’: Here’s why you should opt out appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/ga4-auto-migration-opt-out-393786

All The Welsh Funding that is Available

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All our readers across Wales (and the Welsh people living elsewhere of course), will today be donning their traditional dress, eating Welsh Cakes and Cawl and celebrating all that it is to be Welsh. Why? Because it’s St David’s Day!

In honour of all of our beautiful countrymen we have done a round up of all the grants and funding, only available to Welsh people. Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus.

 

EDUCATION

welsh funding - education

University fees

There are alot of schemes in place to make studying in Wales affordable for Welsh people.

Undergraduates from Wales have a generous package of student living cost support. For 2023, maintenance support has increased by 9.4% – in line with the National Living Wage. When you begin to repay your student loan, you can get up to £1,500 knocked off your debt.

To find out more click here.

Pupil Development Grant

School children from lower-income families who are eligible for free school meals in Wales are eligible for this grant. You could receive a grant of £225 per learner, and £300 for those entering Year 7. This is due to the costs associated with starting secondary school, such as new uniform costs.

All compulsory school years are now eligible for this grant. This means families who qualify for certain benefits can submit a claim if they have a child in primary school from reception to Year 6, or secondary school, in Year 7 to Year 11.

All looked after children qualify for the grant, whether they receive free school meals or not. Pupils who receive free school meals due to transitional protection arrangements do not qualify for this funding.

Families are only entitled to claim once per child, per school year. The 2022 to 2023 scheme is now open and will close on 30 June 2023.

For more information click here.

RUDBAXTON PARISH EDUCATION

The Rudbaxton Education Fund gives grants to individuals under the age of 25 who live in the parish of Rudbuxton in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Grants are available to support students with the costs of materials, equipments, activities and trips, as well as the general costs of higher education. Some of the grants given may include bursaries, travel costs to your place of education and in some circumstances, course fees.

Find out more here.

Student finance

Thinking of going to University? Don’t let money get in the way of your goals. You may be eligible for student finance to support you through your studies.

Find out more here.

 

General

welsh funding support

DISCRETIONARY ASSISTANCE FUND (DAF)

The Discretionary Assistance Fund provides 2 types of grant that you do not need to pay back. These 2 types are:

  1. Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP) – helps to pay for essential costs such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel.
  2. Individual Assistance Payment (IAP) – helping you or someone you care for to live independently in their home or a property you or they are moving into.

For more information, click here.

cost of living support

Local authorities are giving residents a range of support as the cost of living continues to increase. It differs geographically, so you will need to use the Welsh Government’s website to search your postcode or select your local authority from a list.

Find out more here.

UNIVERSAL CREDIT

If you are on Universal Credit, you can also get other forms of support. You may be able to get a budgeting advance, if you have been receiving UC for 6 months or more. This is to help pay for emergency household costs, however you will be required to pay this back through deductions on your regular UC payments.

You will also be able to receive support from food banks, and emergency top-ups from your energy supplier should you not be able to pay for energy. However, any emergency top ups will need to be paid back through your meter.

Find out more here and here.

WELSH WATER ASSISTANCE FUND

The Customer Assistance Fund is designed to help those in severe financial hardship to clear debt and get on top of their payments. If you are in arrears with Welsh Water, this could help you.

If you’re successful in your application, Welsh Water will set up a monthly, fortnightly or weekly payment plan for your current year’s charges. Once you have made payments for 6 months, they could pay off 50% of your previous arrears! If you make payments for a further 6 months, they will then pay off the rest of your previous arrears.
Find out more and how to apply here. You can also find out more information here.

fuel support scheme

Find out if you can get a one-off, fuel support payment of £200 on your local authority’s website. Or, you can search your postcode and local authority from a list. Check it out here.

 

housing

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homelessness

If you are homeless, or fear you may become homeless, you can find lots of support and information to help you. Local authorities must help people who could lose their home or are homeless. They can help you find a home. They work with other support organisations that can help people keep their homes or find a new one.

Find out about the support in your area here.

adapting your home

If you are an older person or have a disability, you may be eligible for the ENABLE scheme, which gives support to those living independently. You can receive small, medium and large adaptations to your home, depending on your level of need.

Small adaptations include small ramps, stair rails and accessible taps. Medium adaptations may be those such as walk-in showers or chair lifts. If you need a building extension or moving bathroom or kitchen, this would count as a large adaptation.

Find out more about this support here.

THE ARTS

be cheerful

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND

The purpose of this arts fund is to:

  • Support the development of relationships, collaborations and networks between Wales’ creative professionals and arts organisations and international partners.
  • Share experiences and skills through the arts within an international context.
  • Raise the profile of Wales and its connections through the arts internationally.

Hurry, applications close 15th March 2023. If interested, click here.

Books Council Wales

The Advances/Fees to Authors and Illustrators Scheme enables publishers in Wales to commission
books of wide appeal which will help them to increase sales, target new markets and develop their
future publishing programmes as a whole
.

To learn more click here.

Literature Wales Events Funding

Literature Wales’ Inspiring Communities Fund funding scheme (formerly Writers on Tour) is a unique funding scheme for literature events.

The scheme offers financial support of up to 50% of the fees paid to writers for events including talks, lectures, creative writing workshops and more. These events can take place anywhere in Wales, in community halls, pubs, libraries, schools, youth clubs – and even on virtual platforms for groups who are meeting online.

Click here for more info.

Creative Wales

Creative Wales is an agency set up within Welsh Government in early 2020.

Their mission is “to drive growth across the creative industries, build on existing success and develop new talent and skills – positioning Wales as one of the best places for creative businesses to locate and thrive.”

For funding opportunities in all creative sectors click here.

Ffilm Cymru

Ffilm Cymru offer funding and training supports emerging and established filmmakers to realise their creative ambitions, gives audiences across Wales access to exciting cinematic experiences, and inspires people of all ages and abilities to participate in film education.

For more info click here.

The post All The Welsh Funding that is Available appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/all-the-welsh-funding-that-is-available

900,000 more households to receive energy bill support

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900,000 more households to receive energy bill support.

Almost one million households across England, Scotland and Wales will benefit from the government’s £400 help with energy bills. An online application portal opened on Monday. This allows households without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier, such as those living in park homes or care homes, to apply to receive one-off support. 

Applications can be submitted via the government’s secure online portal to receive the non-repayable lump sum, under the ‘alternative funding’ route of the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS). If you do not have internet access, you can speak to the dedicated customer helpline via telephone. 

To ensure people can receive this benefit as quickly as possible, the payment will be put straight into people’s bank accounts. Over £7.2 billion has been provided so far to 97% of households across England, Scotland and Wales. Monthly instalments were given to people, either £66 or £67 at a time. 

This  funding is designed to ensure the same level of support reaches those without a direct electricity supplier. It is also available for households who get their energy through a commercial contract, or those who are off-grid. 

The government will never provide links to the application portal, or directly ask individuals to apply for the £400, so beware of scammers using this as an opportunity to steal your personal information. 

Once you have applied to receive energy support and your application has been processed and verified, your details will be shared with your local authority, who will deliver the support directly to your bank account, in one lump sum. 

The exact date households will receive the support will differ. It depends on when the application is made and when payment can be processed. 

Minister at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Amanda Solloway, said:

“We understand the pressure households are under which is why we’ve already stepped in to pay around half of people’s energy bills this winter, and from today, thousands more will be able to apply securely for their £400. 

“Today I’m urging everyone who couldn’t get their EBSS discounts in the regular way to apply via our secure channels. If you don’t have a direct contract with an electricity supplier, it’s essential you submit your application as soon as possible. The sooner you do, the sooner help can get to you.” 

 

For more information on energy bill support, click here. 

The post 900,000 more households to receive energy bill support appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/900000-more-households-to-receive-energy-bill-support

Why Is Product Leadership Important?

Home Business Magazine Online

In today’s competitive market, companies need to focus on product leadership if they want to remain successful. Product leaders need to be able to identify customer needs and create solutions that meet those needs better than the competition.

This requires a deep understanding of the target audience, their changing preferences, and the ever-evolving landscape of technology and tools available for developing new products.

Product leadership also involves pushing boundaries to create innovative products that stand out from the competition. Companies must stay ahead of trends and have a vision for what their products will look like in the future if they want to maintain their market share over time.

By investing in product leadership and training with companies like Radical Product Thinking, organizations can ensure they remain at the forefront of their industry and continue delivering value to their customers.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the core components of product leadership, the value it brings to businesses, and strategies for getting started.

What Is Product Leadership?

Product leadership is an approach to product management that focuses on creating innovative and customer-centric products. It’s about understanding the needs of customers, developing solutions that meet those needs, and leading the product development process from concept to launch. Product leadership requires strong communication skills and a deep understanding of the customer’s journey.

The role of product leadership is to create a vision for the product and then lead a team to bring it to life. The leader must have an acute awareness of market trends, user feedback, and competition in order to make informed decisions about what features should be included in the product.

Product leaders also need to collaborate closely with other teams such as engineering and marketing in order to ensure successful execution of projects.

Product leadership is essential for any organization that wants to stay competitive in today’s market. Leaders must be able to identify opportunities for innovation and create products that are both desirable and feasible.

They must be able to build relationships with stakeholders, manage resources effectively, and drive organizational change when necessary. By focusing on customer-centric design principles and staying ahead of the curve, product leaders can help their organizations become more successful.

Benefits of Product Leadership

Product leadership is essential to any organization because it helps companies to stay competitive in the market, identify new opportunities, and make decisions that prioritize customer needs. Therefore, understanding the benefits of product leadership is critical for businesses.

First, product leadership provides organizations with an edge over their competitors by helping them stay ahead of the competition. This includes staying on top of market trends, anticipating customer needs, and being able to quickly adjust strategies when necessary. Product leaders are also able to use data-driven insights to inform decisions and develop strategies that will help their company stay ahead of the curve.

Second, product leadership enables businesses to identify new opportunities in the market that they may not have been aware of before. Product leaders can leverage research and analysis to uncover potential areas of growth or new products or services that could add value for customers. By having a deep understanding of the market landscape, product leaders can help organizations make informed decisions about which markets or products are most likely to be successful.

Finally, effective product leadership ensures that customer needs remain at the forefront of all decision making within an organization. Product leaders focus on solving customer problems through innovative solutions and leveraging data-driven insights to understand customer preferences. This helps businesses create products or services that meet customer needs while providing them with a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Key Responsibilities of Product Leaders

Product leaders are responsible for managing their product’s entire journey from conception to distribution. They need to understand the needs of their customers, develop strategies to meet them, and launch products that will be successful in the market. Product leaders need to have a thorough understanding of the industry and its trends so they can anticipate changes and formulate plans accordingly.

Product leaders must have strong communication skills. They need to effectively articulate their plans and ideas to stakeholders, partners, teams, and customers. They also need to keep everyone up-to-date on progress and changes throughout the product’s life cycle. Additionally, product leaders must be able to prioritize tasks and delegate responsibilities throughout the team in order to ensure deadlines are met and goals achieved.

Product leadership is crucial for organizations that want to remain competitive in today’s market. A successful product leader will be able to guide their team through challenges while staying ahead of industry trends. Product leadership involves a lot of hard work but it can bring immense success if done correctly.

Challenges of Product Leaders

Being able to become a product leader requires knowledge, vision and strategy to create an effective product and bring it to market. Product leaders must be able to identify a need in the marketplace, develop a product to meet that need, and then ensure its successful delivery into the hands of consumers.

The challenges faced by product leaders are many. They must have an understanding of the industry they are working in and be able to anticipate market trends. They must have an understanding of the technology used in their product as well as any regulatory requirements that may affect it. Additionally, they must understand how their product fits within the competitive landscape and be able to develop strategies for positioning it against competitors.

Product leaders must also have strong organizational skills in order to coordinate resources, manage budgets, and track progress throughout the development process. They must also be able to effectively communicate with stakeholders throughout the process, including customers, partners, investors and other key players in order to build support for their product.

Finally, these professionals must also stay abreast of changes in the industry and make adjustments as needed to keep their products current and competitive.

Product leadership is a challenging role that requires skill, experience, and dedication in order for products to succeed. Those who possess these qualities can help create innovative products that benefit customers while driving value for businesses.

Radical Product Thinking Helps Organizations Develop Product Leadership

Developing product leadership skills requires practice, dedication, and an open mind. Product leaders must be willing to learn from their mistakes, take risks, and try new approaches. As they gain experience, they will become more confident in their decisions and be able to anticipate problems before they arise. In addition, having a strong support system can provide additional guidance, advice, and resources as needed.

However, by using tools such as the product management toolkit from Radical Product Thinking, people can get a jumpstart on building an effective product leadership team. Product leaders should use this toolkit to gain valuable insights into the process and develop strategies that will ensure success in their organizations.

But what is Radical Product Thinking? Radical Product Thinking is a brand that offers a framework and toolkit designed to help organizations build successful and world-changing products.

The brand was created by a team of experienced product professionals who have personally encountered and overcome product diseases through being vision-driven instead of iteration-led. Radical Product Thinking’s methodology provides a systematic approach to product development, with a focus on staying vision-driven.

The brand’s toolkit is available for free download and has been adopted by a wide range of organizations worldwide, including startups, multinationals, nonprofits, and government agencies. By using Radical Product Thinking’s framework, organizations can build products that are more likely to succeed and have a positive impact on the world.

Ultimately, product leadership is an important asset for any organization looking to thrive in today’s competitive marketplace. With the right combination of knowledge, experience, and determination it is possible for product leaders to create successful products that stand out from the competition and meet customer needs effectively.

The post Why Is Product Leadership Important? appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/management/leadership/why-is-product-leadership-important/

Top 5 Reasons Why a High-Risk Merchant Account Is Important for Business

Home Business Magazine Online

Business success depends on business enthusiasm and following its core responsibilities. It is about finding business solutions relatable to the current world problems and market pressures.

As an entrepreneur, you would want to explore the business market and eradicate the problems simultaneously, but this is not how it works. In fact, you will not find it easy to explore all the problems for mitigation purposes.

There are various aspects related to business, and all have different solutions. Still, one thing is clear. Business without a payment processor is on the verge of decline from the market. Payment solutions are one of the primary concerns for any business process.

While you are dealing with this modern digitized market, you will need to think of a solution that can help your employees and customers.

The digital process is very fast and convincing for all, but it is creating a competitive market that harms new and small businesses.

However, digitalization is also responsible for the quick emergence of startups. When the world is broad, opportunities and risks are high. Finding a proper merchant account is not as easy as you think in such a situation.

Banks trust companies that have a proper payment history and good credit scores. In a competitive market, maintaining a good credit score and showing proper credit history is tough for many new business owners.

Here, we will provide some instances of maintaining a high-risk merchant account for a business.

What Is a High-Risk Business?

High-risk merchant accounts are provided to high-risk businesses. Which businesses are classified as high-risk?

There are certain criteria for understanding the high-risk business category. For instance, businesses that are new in the market are always considered high-risk. This is because they do not have extensive transaction history to show to the banks.

Moreover, businesses that deal with particular industries may also fall naturally under the high-risk category. For instance, CBD, firearms, nutraceuticals, the adult industry, subscription boxes, and the travel industry fall under this category.

Apart from that, a business with a higher rate of refunds and fraud is at high risk, which the merchant providers do not like.

Things to Look for in a Merchant Account

After you understand what a high-risk business is, it’s time to consider high-risk business accounts. Not all merchant account providers consider high-risk businesses. So, if you have a high-risk business, then it’s better to forget about traditional bank business accounts.

Without proper evidence and extensive fair payment solutions, you will not be able to gain the trust of the banks. For these companies, some custom banking solutions are available. When you are at risk, you will need to consider a partner who is ready to take high risks.

High risk payment processor can be your best friend in dealing with the market and customers. Mitigating customers’ needs is the main focus of businesses these days. Industries are trying to be more customer-centric.

While you are choosing a high-risk merchant account, you will need to go through some prominent criteria.

Flexibility

The purchasing needs of the clients can be different, and sometimes it might not fix your goals in the company. Providing solutions to clients with proper flexibility is essential. Be it the payment option or the payment processing time, they want flexibility everywhere.

If you have a proper merchant account and a suitable gateway to receive and refund payments, then you are at the top of your business goals. A little flexibility in the payment solutions can help your customers have a satisfying experience.

While considering the high-risk merchant account, look for flexibility and also consider the best payment processor with various payment options.

Protection

Frauds are common in the high-risk market. Fraud cases are increasing rapidly in this digital world. Online payments are easy and fast, but if you are not aware of the facts and facets, it will be difficult for you to recognize fraudulent activities in the digital world.

Get a strong payment processor which can detect fraudulent activities. Most high-risk merchant accounts are of high price, and thus they provide better facilities. It’s quite natural to seek protection against fraud.

Pricing

Pricing is a big issue when choosing a particular payment partner. High-risk merchant accounts are already dealing with a high-price solution. So, you are already providing them with enough money to take care of your transactions.

But this is not the end of the tension yet! There are some hidden charges that you need to pay off at the end of every month if you do not recognize them.

Sometimes, the payment processor’s website does not update their latest fees, and later on you discover many charges. Before considering a proper merchant provider, deal with these issues and make sure that you have arranged everything properly.

Reasons to Consider a High-Risk Merchant Account for Business

When you have a high-risk business in the competitive market, you want protection in every way. But the banks will not rely on some merchant account providers. They are open to working with high-risk business markets.

When your business is prone to refund scams, frauds, and chargebacks, you need to have a high-risk merchant account to protect your processes.

If you are uncertain about the benefits of high-risk merchant accounts, here are some prominent benefits to getting engaged with an account today.

Chargeback Protection

Dealing in the high-risk market is always related to higher chargebacks. Excessive chargebacks in the high-risk market can terminate your business. But you will rarely find a business with a high-risk merchant account getting eliminated from the market.

There is a reason why you won’t get terminated this time. High-risk merchant accounts are prone to dealing with chargeback protections. They monitor all your chargebacks with individual instances, and thus you will not overlook anything regarding your payments and fees, and refunds as well.

It will never cross the chargeback threshold, but will maintain a good condition throughout the year.

World Coverage

You will get access to the global market. Not all merchant providers provide such facilities, so you need to be wise enough to choose a provider which gives you such facilities. Access to the world means transactions are now international, and a foreign consumer can easily pay you for your product or service in their own currency.

If you dig into the market, you will understand the exact opportunities of considering global access for payments. This type of process will increase your accessibility in the global business market. Sometimes we see foreign products, but we lack the access to pay for and avail the products.

Security

One of the best benefits of considering a high-risk merchant account is to secure yourself and your customers as well. Financial scams and frauds are common, and thus it’s better to go for a secured process in terms of transactions. On the other hand, you will need to check through the instances of securing the perspectives and details of your consumers.

There is a big lag when companies choose a merchant provider without looking at their consumers’ points of view. Also, using advanced technologies can be a better solution to detect fraud and scams.

Security here deals mainly with technology and protecting personal details during transactions. The high-risk merchant providers use high-end technologies to ensure that they are protecting the details of the consumers and also enable safe transactions.

Customer Satisfaction

Customers seek better service with smooth processing. Payments are always a headache for consumers, and they are sometimes left unsatisfied. With the decent facilities of high-risk merchant accounts, you will be able to satisfy your consumers.

  • Improved security.
  • Local currency exchange.
  • Credit and debit card payments.

You Want to Earn More

A company mainly deals with normal recurring payments and large-sum transactions. This is, so far, a balanced and steady business model for the providers.

But it is only possible if you consider a high-risk merchant provider who works on a steady and long-term process. Sustainability at its best can give you long-term growth and success.

This is not the end of finding solutions through merchant accounts. You will find other opportunities as well. However, we have acknowledged the important needs and benefits of high-risk merchant accounts.

The post Top 5 Reasons Why a High-Risk Merchant Account Is Important for Business appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/money/money-management/top-5-reasons-why-high-risk-merchant-account-important-business/

The energy price cap has fallen – why are my bills rising?

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The energy price cap has fallen – why are my bills rising? 

Energy prices have been at the forefront of most people’s minds for the last year or so, with bills soaring and the cost of living reaching a 40-year high. So, it definitely brings some relief to learn the energy price cap has lowered. 

Yesterday, energy regulator Ofgem announced the price cap was being lowered by £999 from April, with many hoping these lowering costs would be the light at the end of the tunnel after the turbulence of previous months. 

The current energy price cap stands at £4,379 per year, and will reduce to £3,280 for the average household from April 1st. This is a 23% reduction, music to the nation’s ears. This reflects the fall in recent wholesale prices. 

if the energy price cap is going down – why are our bills going up? 

Well, the current Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) set out by the government, has kept the cap for households at £2,100 annually. On top of this, the end of the £400 energy support payment, paid in six instalments of £66 and £67, will end come April. 

So, with this government support ending at once, households will be required to pay an average of £500 more a year as the result of this support reducing, despite the price cap lowering. This means customers will be paying around 20% more on their bills as the government’s EPG becomes less generous. 

Danni Hewson, AJ Bell head of financial analysis, comments:

“The irony won’t be lost on many that at a time energy prices are finally falling from their uncomfortable peak millions of households across the UK will find themselves paying more. People are still protected to a degree by the government’s energy guarantee, but from April it will be much less generous.  

“To add insult to injury the welcome discount that’s been popping into people’s accounts every month also ends at the same time and taken together there will be plenty of families hoping for a very mild spring.” 

What if I can’t pay my energy bills?

If you are currently experiencing financial difficulty and cannot pay your bills or think you will be unable to pay them when the EPG ends, it is important to reach out for help as soon as possible. 

Firstly, it is important to be direct and transparent with your energy provider. They will be able to provide help and guidance and it is the best place to start. Charities such as StepChange and Turn2Us help people across the UK, giving free, impartial advice, as well as direct help. 

Citizen’s Advice is also a brilliant tool which gives guidance and advice on many topics, from energy bills to council tax. Check it out here. 

The post The energy price cap has fallen – why are my bills rising? appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/the-energy-price-cap-has-fallen-why-are-my-bills-rising

Why Your Business Needs Fibre Broadband

Home Business Magazine Online

Most businesses would struggle to function without the internet, and the internet relies on a broadband connection. Yet as the demands placed on broadband networks increase, the ADSL and FTTC lines still used by many businesses are struggling to keep up, severely reducing productivity.

As the data demands of everyday tasks, communication tools and general browsing continue to rise, old internet connections are becoming more and more outmoded. A dedicated fibre broadband connection could solve these issues in one fell swoop, and give you the capacity to adopt new software and services.

What are ADSL and FTTC?

Most homes and businesses in the UK still rely on copper cables to transmit at least part of their internet connection. Traditionally, all internet connections were carried over existing copper telephone cables, from a local exchange to your local cabinet, and then to your door. Old dial-up (DSL) connections used your entire line to connect to the internet, literally phoning up your internet service provider (ISP) to establish a connection.

This was superseded by Asymmetric Digital Subscribers Line (ADSL), which effectively split your copper cable in half: half of its bandwidth was used for phone signals, and the other half for broadband. This allowed for the two to be used in tandem, but because of the limitations of copper for passing signals, most of the bandwidth was dedicated to downloads rather than uploads. Download speeds were limited to 24 Mbps, with uploads being much lower than this.

A more recent development is fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC). This method employs high speed and high bandwidth fibre-optic cables between the local exchange and your cabinet, then copper cables from the cabinet to your house. This improves both reliability and speeds, with downloads up to 80 Mbps, though this still depends on your distance from the exchange, and the age and quality of the copper cables into your premises.

The problem with FTTC

Fibre-to-the-cabinet has been a positive step for the UK’s ageing and neglected broadband infrastructure, and has improved speeds and reliability for many people. However, it has failed to keep pace with the development of internet services, and changes in people’s habits. While tripling maximum download speeds compared to ADSL seems like a quantum leap, it was well overdue, and the demand for data continues to increase exponentially.

The rising popularity of streaming services, increasing size of web assets, and advent of 4K video have massively increased the average level of data consumption. This has been further exacerbated by the recent increase in remote working, leading to people spending more time online, sharing more files between homes and offices, and spending more time in video and voice calls. All of this places further strain on the infrastructure, and requires bandwidth and speeds beyond what FTTC can manage.

The potential solution to this is the rollout of full fibre, commonly known as fibre-to-the-door (FTTD). By replacing copper cables with fibre-optic cables and switching old phone lines to modern VoIP lines, individuals and businesses can benefit from huge increases in bandwidth and speeds. The current highest speed available in a commercial fibre-optic network service is 10Gbps (10,000 Mbps), but isolated tests have successfully reached speeds of 1Pbps (100 million Mb). In short, the potential for fibre is limited as much by what ISPs can handle — and what people actually need — as it is by the technology itself.

Benefits of fibre broadband for businesses

Full fibre broadband has some obvious advantages over older technologies, but it isn’t necessarily obvious how they apply in a business setting — or how they compare to the cost of installing a fibre line. Here then are some of the biggest benefits of fibre broadband for businesses, and why you should consider investing in a fibre internet solution:

File sharing

Files are getting larger, and the kinds of files businesses use are changing too. As well as traditional files such as spreadsheets and documents, photos and videos are increasingly sent by email, social apps, or over cloud storage services such as Drive and Dropbox.

All of these assets for websites, plans, promotional materials and more put an increasing strain on copper broadband connections, particularly when multiple people are downloading things at the same time. This is not to mention other services that might be passively using data, such as having internet radio on, or listening to Spotify as you work.

Marketing and media

Even businesses who would not normally engage with digital media are seeing this change due to the prevalence of social media. Many companies now produce their own social media and promotional content such as videos, editing and publishing content. This may mean not only uploading content, but downloading media as part of the editing process, and sharing those source files with others.

With even short videos often running into multiple gigabytes, uploading videos to social media networks and video platforms can take hours on a traditional line — and this is on top of the time they take to render. All of this eats into your productivity, and prevents you from being reactive with your content, in a medium which demands reactivity.

Flexible working

Following the rise of remote working during the pandemic, many businesses have adopted it permanently, either as a situational practice or with permanent work from home days. For anyone who doesn’t work on a laptop, this means embracing cloud storage solutions in order to access files. For anything that can’t be accessed directly through cloud software, this necessarily means uploading things to access in one location, and downloading them in another.

Zoom calls are also a common fixture of post-pandemic business, both for remote working and client communication. Having numerous people on a call can consume a lot of bandwidth, particularly with high quality video, and can lead to issues with lag and disconnections. High quality VoIP for things like customer service is also increasingly popular as a replacement for traditional fixed ISDN lines, and adds further burden to your Internet infrastructure.

Browsing speeds

As with all technology, what was sufficient 10 or 20 years ago often isn’t enough today. Where the internet is concerned, this means bigger and more resource intensive websites. While developers will try to optimise their sites to run at lower speeds, large images and videos are increasingly used as decoration, with autoplaying video banners and huge header images designed for 4K screens. All of this means larger image and video files, which take longer to load — demanding more bandwidth as well as better computers.

Fibre broadband provides both ample bandwidth and lightning fast download speeds. This not only allows you to load pages more quickly, but allows multiple people to load large sites or other resources at the same time. This is invaluable not only for general browsing, but also for things like video training courses, brochures or other resources that employees might commonly have to access — saving time and making you more responsive to digital communications.

Final thoughts

Fibre broadband isn’t necessary for every business, but it is increasingly invaluable. As your business grows and as data-heavy communication, file sharing and other services become more common, the strain on old broadband networks will increase — potentially leaving you at a competitive disadvantage.

Sota is one of the UK’s leading independent IT companies, providing professional IT support in Kent, cloud computing, cyber resilience, connectivity, and unified communications. Having worked with countless businesses over the years, they are experts in their field, ready to advise and offer tailored solutions for each and every company. 

The post Why Your Business Needs Fibre Broadband appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/home-office/internet-technology/why-business-needs-fibre-broadband/

Your Shovel Is Not Enough: Why You Need Professional Help with Snow Removal

Home Business Magazine Online

It is no secret that winter snow can be a real pain to deal with. From icy sidewalks and driveways to backbreaking shoveling, snow removal is a big job — even bigger than you might expect. As the snow piles up, it seems like getting rid of it is impossible. But do not worry; while giving your shovel a break is not always an option, there are other solutions.

Why You Need Professional Help

Save yourself time and energy and get professional help with snow removal! The services professionals offer can make all the difference when dealing with winter storms. This article will discuss why you need to consider hiring a professional for snow removal and why having someone else in charge of your winter maintenance is worth it.

The Risks of DIY Snow Removal

The winter season brings a lot of beautiful things. But emergency snow removal? That is one big headache that you do not need. After all, shoveling or plowing snow is backbreaking work — but it could also be dangerous if done incorrectly.

You still may be tempted to take on the task yourself, so let us share a few reasons why we believe it is best to leave it to professional snow removal services:

  • You run the risk of depleting your energy reserves and overexerting yourself. It is especially true if you are not used to manual labor.
  • Professional snow removal equipment is designed for heavy-duty work. It can handle more work in less time, whereas shovels can only move so much at a time and tend to take longer, even with several people helping.
  • Since there are many safety hazards associated with snow removal, such as slick surfaces and the potential for heavy equipment accidents, having someone experienced can help prevent any serious injuries on the job.

Professional Snow Removal: Why It Is Worth It

If you are in an area where snowfall is frequent, you know the importance of keeping your pathways snow-free. The last thing you want is for slippery conditions to lead to an accident. That is why investing in professional snow removal services can be a smart move. Here are just a few reasons why:

  • Cost Savings: Professional snow removal services are worth their weight in gold. They will save you time and money, as they come with all the necessary tools and expertise to get the job done quickly and correctly the first time.
  • Enhanced Safety: Professional snow removers have specialized equipment meant to get the job done right without compromising safety. They can also treat your pathways with de-icers and other preventive products to guard against extra slippery conditions.
  • Optimal Results: With professional snow removal services, you are getting more than just a cleared path — you are getting expertly-crafted results that will not leave any icy patches or miss any hard-to-reach areas that could be hazardous for walking.

Do not let the winter weather put your safety at risk — leave it to the professionals for guaranteed results that will keep your pathways safe and ice-free all season long!

Benefits of Professional Snow Removal

When you decide to go with a professional for snow removal, you get more than just someone to clear your snow-covered driveway. Here are some of the benefits of opting for professional snow removal services:

Professional Equipment

One of the best benefits of hiring a professional is that they will come equipped with heavy-duty tools and equipment specifically designed for managing the toughest winter weather conditions. Some of these pieces include snow blowers, shovels, skid steers, and trucks to ensure that your property gets cleared quickly and thoroughly.

Low Risk

If you are using a shovel or other manual tool to remove snow, there is a chance that you may slip, fall or injure yourself in the process. Professional snow removal companies have been trained on proper safety protocols to ensure everyone stays safe while they are on your property.

The Bottom Line

Manually removing snow can leave behind runoff or even deep gouges in your lawn from the shovel blade dragging through it. A professional service will take extra care to ensure that your lawn is unharmed by any cleaning activities. They may also use specialized materials like salt or sand for traction that help minimize damage even further. So, instead of relying on your shovel alone for snow removal, why not leave the heavy lifting to the professionals and enjoy your winter worry-free?

The post Your Shovel Is Not Enough: Why You Need Professional Help with Snow Removal appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/lifestyles/success-lifestyles/shovel-not-enough-need-professional-help-snow-removal/

Google local map pack goes missing in search results (now fixed)

The Google local pack, the map results, you see Google often display in the search results seems to have gone missing. I assume this was a bug, but no one was able to trigger a local pack to show up in Google Search for a 20-minute period.

Examples. Try searching for [barber near me] and you won’t get that local pack. You just get the standard ten blue links, without the map.

Alphabet Inc.

This seems to have stopped working at around 11:30 am ET.

And now has returned about 20 minutes later, I now see the local pack:

companies

Why we care. The local pack drives a tremendous amount of traffic to local businesses. It going away, even for a short period of time, can be a huge loss for those local small businesses.

This appears to have been a bug and is now resolved.

The post Google local map pack goes missing in search results (now fixed) appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-local-map-pack-goes-missing-in-search-results-393693

Build a winning marketing attribution framework by Cynthia Ramsaran

data-driven attribution

Equipping marketing leaders with the skills, tools and data they need to prove ROI is like setting out to sea on a fishing expedition.

Rather than distributing equal bait to each rod of a marketing campaign despite not knowing which will produce the most bites, marketing attribution teaches marketers to assemble the best combination of bait before casting its line into a sea of prospects.

Register today for “Build a Winning Marketing Attribution Framework,” presented by Chanel99 and learn how to overcome the top three challenges in marketing attribution.


Click here to view more Search Engine Land webinars.

The post Build a winning marketing attribution framework appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/build-a-winning-marketing-attribution-framework-393723