Category: Internet Marketing

Affordable Connectivity Program or ACP Benefits and Impact

Home Business Magazine Online

The Affordable Connectivity Program or ACP is a new initiative from the FCC that offers a monthly broadband subsidy to low-income households. The program is designed to help close the digital divide and make sure everyone has access to the internet.

With access to the internet, households are able to gain access to valuable resources for education, livelihood, healthcare, and other essential services.

Here is how the acp benefits communities and creates impacts in communities nationwide.

1. Increased internet access for low-income communities

The FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program has had a positive impact on low-income communities by increasing affordable access to internet services. According to the most recent data, the program has helped to increase broadband adoption and reported millions of sign-ups on a weekly basis since its launch.

The jump in the number of houses signing up is also due to other government initiatives related to the ACP. The state of Louisiana for example has created the Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities or GUMBO grant. The grant provides funding for private companies to bring broadband infrastructure to rural communities previously unserved by internet service providers.

2. Improved educational opportunities

The recent COVID pandemic has especially taught us the importance of being able to access educational resources at home, via a high-speed broadband connection. During the lockdowns, schools were forced to shift to virtual-based classrooms. Teachers had to make use of video conferencing apps to hold classes online, due to strict no-contact policies in place during the height of the pandemic. Households without proper internet connection would inadvertently be left behind in classes due to poor connection.

In addressing this, the government recognized that affordable connectivity is critical for ensuring that all members of our community have access to the educational opportunities they need to succeed. Through the Affordable Connectivity Program, we have seen an increase in the number of families who are able to connect to the internet at home, positively impacting student learning at home, and allowing easier access to educational resources.

3. Enhanced economic development

The Affordable Connectivity Program is also impacting economic development in rural areas and low-income communities. By increasing access to high-speed broadband, the ACP has helped to create job opportunities for individuals through remote work, as well as business opportunities for small-time entrepreneurs. And due to the availability of broadband in what used to be unserved locations, new businesses and investments are slowly being attracted by these participating communities.

4. Improved digital literacy

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the ACP also impacts communities by addressing the lack or gap in digital literacy within underserved communities. Digital literacy is defined by UNESCO as the ability to effectively use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to understand, evaluate, create and communicate digital information.

Through the ACP, communities also are able to gain access to digital literacy resources sponsored by public and private organizations. These resources come in the form of information campaigns and practical training on how to use digital devices such as computers, and tablets, and also in the use of essential applications.

The post Affordable Connectivity Program or ACP Benefits and Impact appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/home-office/internet-technology/affordable-connectivity-program-acp-benefits-impact/

Report: Google sharing Chrome iOS search revenue with Apple

Google pays Apple a share of revenue generated from Chrome search traffic, according to a new report from The Register.

Revenue share reveal. In a 356-page report, published June 10, 2022, there was a key redaction:

Google pays Apple a share of the search revenue it earns from browser traffic on iOS in the following contexts: in return for being the default search provider on Safari, Google pays Apple a share of revenue derived from Safari search traffic; and pursuant to various commercial arrangements, Google pays Apple a share of revenue derived from [redacted] search traffic.

– CMA, Mobile ecosystems, Market study final report

According to The Register, that redacted word is “Chrome.” And it was redacted from another section of the CMA’s report:

Under these agreements, Apple receives a significant share of revenue from Google Search traffic on Safari and [redacted] on iOS devices. Google’s estimated payments to Apple for search default status on Safari (£[1-1.5] billion total in 2021 for the UK) were substantially more than those made to its next largest partner, Samsung. This high level of payment is likely to reflect Apple’s strong positions in browsers (and other search access points) and browser engines (through the WebKit restriction).

Why we care. Almost every year, we’ve heard rumors about Apple finally unveiling its own search engine to compete with Google. Yet it has never happened. Could this be a – or the – reason why? Is Google essentially paying Apple not to become a search competitor and thus, both are maintaining their status quo?

Maintaining dominance? It’s impossible to deny Google and Apple have a mutually beneficial relationship. And there’s further theory to be found about how important that relationship is within this antitrust lawsuit, which alleges:

More than half (50%) of Google’s search business was conducted through use of Apple devices.

Because more than half of Google’s search business was conducted through Apple devices, Apple was a major potential threat to Google, and that threat was designated by Google as “Code Red.”

Google paid billions of dollars to Apple and agreed to share its profits with Apple to eliminate the threat and fear of Apple as a competitor.

Google viewed the aspect of Apple as a potential competitor to be “Code Red.”

If Apple became a competitor in the search business, Google would have lost half of its business.

What isn’t new. Google has paid Apple billions of dollars over the years to remain the default search option on Apple devices. What started as a $1 billion dollar deal has grown to be worth an estimated $15 billion annually (in 2021) to Apple.

We’ve covered the evolution of the Google-Apple search deal in prior years:

Read the story. More details in What Brit watchdog redacted: Google gives Apple cut of Chrome iOS search revenue by Thomas Claburn.

The post Report: Google sharing Chrome iOS search revenue with Apple appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/report-google-sharing-chrome-ios-search-revenue-with-apple-393296

This day in search marketing history: February 18

Yahoo stops using Google search

In 2004, Yahoo stopped using Google’s web search results and rolled out its own new index and ranking system.

Although Yahoo had purchased Inktomi in December 2002, Yahoo opted to build its own web search engine. Yahoo still relied on Google for image search and and News search was a combination of Yahoo’s own editorial and technological resources.

The quality of Yahoo’s results were impressive at the time. As for what was being indexed:

“The Yahoo Search index is capturing the full text of web pages, up to a 500K limit. This is greater than the 101K maximum indexed by Google. A broad range of file types, including HTML, PDF, and Microsoft Office documents is also included in the mix.

How big is Yahoo’s index? They aren’t saying, despite Google’s announcement yesterday that it has expanded its index to nearly 4.3 billion documents (6 billion, if you count images and newsgroup postings, as Google does).

Interestingly, in almost all of my tests with random queries, Yahoo reports more results found than Google. Does this mean that Yahoo’s index is bigger? Perhaps — but reported results are estimates, not exact counts. They also can include factors other than keyword matches and so are notoriously unreliable measures of overall index size. Suffice to say that Yahoo’s index is comparable to Google’s for most queries.”

– Search Engine Watch, Yahoo! Birth of a New Machine

At the time, Microsoft had yet to launch its own web crawler for MSN Search, and Ask Jeeves/Teoma was the only other top tier search engine available.

Search Engine Land also wished Yahoo a happy 5th birthday in 2009.

Also on this day

Google testing questions and answers in the Google Maps interface

2022: This feature first launched in 2017 in the local panel and Google appears to be testing it in Google Maps.

LinkedIn’s Service Pages for freelancers adds features to showcase credibility

2022: Service Page owners could show the organization they worked for and include media from their portfolio.

Google updated metric boundaries for core web vitals in Search Console

2021: Google made a small change to the metric boundaries it used for defining red versus yellow versus green scores in this report.

Responsive search ads now the default in Google Ads

2021: Though expanded text ads could still be created.

Google brings Display ads to attribution reports as an open beta

2021: Advertisers could see Display ads alongside search and YouTube.

Google Search Console Change of Address tool adds redirect validation & reminder

2020: Google announced two new features to the Change of Address tool within Google Search Console.

Google Ads intros ‘continuous audience sharing’ for manager accounts

2020: The opt-in capability was available in manager account settings.

Goodbye Search Engine Land, SMX and Third Door Media

2020: After more than two decades of writing about search and online marketing, as well as speaking at and organizing conferences, Chris Sherman moved on.

Marketers can now view Shopping Campaigns in Bing Ads search terms reporting

2019: The updated reporting grid also included an Added/Excluded keywords column.

Tell Google Why You Want More Than 90 Days Of Search Analytics Data

2016: Despite having a way to export your Search Console data and the Search Analytics API, Google wanted to know why you wanted more data directly in the Search Console.

Google To Launch AMP In Search Results On Feb. 24, 2016

2016: That meant that mobile searchers wou8ld begin to see AMP-optimized content from publishers in the search results.

New In AdWords: Stage Campaign Changes In Drafts, Test Changes In Experiments

2016: Campaign drafts and experiments made reviewing proposed changes and testing those changes more accessible.

Since 2013 Bing’s Share Up 5 Points, Ask & AOL Going Way Of The BlackBerry

2016: There was almost no movement in the numbers from the previous month.

Trademark Court’s Impossible Order: Uber Told To Change Google Search Results

2016: Judge tried to strike a balance but failed to understand the inherent problem at the heart of order – controlling search outcomes.

Bing Rolls Out Red Carpet For The Oscars With Its “Academy Awards Experience”

2016: Bing’s Guide to the Academy Awards delivered Oscar-related content, including past winners, red carpet fashions and memorable show moments.

See All Of The New Google AdWords Updates On One Web Page

2015: Google created a new page that acts as a release notes document for showing advertisers the latest updates and feature releases.

Competitive Bid Opportunities Arrive On Bing To Help Advertisers Analyze Themselves Against Rivals

2015: Tool allowed advertisers to stack themselves up against the competition, and instantly make changes where they see fit.

Google Testing More Ads On Knowledge Graph Panels: Google Play Gets The Spotlight

2014: Ads on the knowledge graph were for movie streaming rentals that gave Google Play the VIP treatment.

Out Of Beta: Google Shopping Campaigns For PLAs Now Available Globally

2014: After just over a 3-month beta period, Google rolled out Shopping campaigns to all users.

Bing Adds Three New Apps For Windows Phones: Travel, Food & Drink and Health & Fitness

2014: Bing added three new apps for the Windows Phone and refreshed several of their other apps.

Aviate Is Yahoo’s Answer To Google Now (And More)

2014: But it wasn’t “robust” enough to fulfill its strategic potential. 

Delivering On Search: Behind The Scenes With An Ad Agency SEO Manager

2014: Insight on Hillary Glaser’s role within ad agency Lowe Campbell Ewald and how she saw brands failing when it came to search efforts.

Google Works To Prevent Illegal Download Sites From Having A Credit Source

2013: Google was in talks with Visa, Mastercard and PayPal to prevent these types of companies from using credit cards or PayPal accounts.

Search Engines More Trusted Than Social Media For News & Information [Study]

2013: When it came to getting general news and information, consumers worldwide put as much trust in search engines as they did in traditional media — and more in both than they do in social media.

Reddit AMA Reveals Graph Search Has Been In The Works Since Early 2011 & Specs On How It Works

2013: One reason that Graph Search rolled out so slowly: privacy.

Court Reversal Brings Surprising Loss For Google In AdWords Trademark Case

2011: A Federal judge in California denied Google’s motion to dismiss a “false association” claim.

Obama’s Silicon Valley “Tech Supper” – Who Sat Where? Why Was He There?

2011: Google CEO Eric Schmidt was there, as was Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Twitter CEO Dick Costolo and Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz.

Search In Pics: Google Lederhosen, Umbrellas & Logos

2011: The latest images showing what people eat at the search engine companies, how they play, who they meet, where they speak, what toys they have and more.

Is Google Referrer Spamming To Detect Spam?

2010: Possible evidence that Google was using fake referrers, possibly to detect forms of spam.

Google Gets Patent For Variable Content Access By Geography

2010: Google book scanning and search appeared to be the primary intended use case. 

Yahoo & Microsoft Receive Go Ahead To Implement Search Deal

2010: They received “unrestricted” clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission to proceed.

Google Wants Mountain View To Change Zoning Laws

2010: Google wanted to enable their employees to live closer to the Googleplex, which would make for happier employees.

Google Maps On Steroids: New Display Shows Dozens Of Businesses (Maybe More)

2009: Google added a layer for local search results that activated when there were more relevant results than it could show on one page.

Google Expands AdSense For Domains Globally

2009: Google had promised to continue the expansion after making the program available to all U.S. publishers In December 2008.

Google Latitude Attracts A Million Users In A Week

2009: That’s what Google VP of Engineering Vic Gundotra said.

Google Finally Releases Google Mobile App For Windows Mobile

2009: Seven months after the release of the iPhone, Google brought their mobile app to the Windows Mobile device.

SearchBiz Legal Edition: Varney Uses The “M Word,” More AdWords Litigation, Yahoo Lawyer Files Complaint — Against Yahoo

2009: This question of whether Google was a “monopoly” when “the competition is a click away” was subtle and complex.

Google 10K: 55% More Employees, 99% Of Income Via Ads & More

2008: Advertising revenues made up 99% of Google’s revenues in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

It’s The Culture Stupid: Happy Googlers Sound Off On What They Like About The Place

2008: There was a self-conscious effort internally to maintain the atmosphere and culture that had enabled Google to succeed.

Google Contractor Sues Google Over Google Sky Layer

2008: A Google contractor sued Google for allegedly stealing a Sky layer idea from him.

Google Helps In Child Porn Bust In United States

2008: A high school teacher was indicted for distributing and soliciting child pornography on Google-owned Hello.com.

Blueprints Of Google’s Oregon Data Center

2008: The data center would require enough power to light up about 82,000 homes, equivalent to 103-megawatts of electricity.

Yahoo Buzz: Next Digg Competitor

2008: Yahoo Buzz would be similar to Digg, but start only with 100 sites allowed into the system. 

Hitwise: Google Users Older, Bigger Spenders Than Yahoo’s

2008: Google users were more likely to be affluent and have spent more online.

From Search Marketing Expo (SMX)

Past contributions from Search Engine Land’s Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)

These columns are a snapshot in time and have not been updated since publishing, unless noted. Opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and not necessarily Search Engine Land.

< February 17 | Search Marketing History | February 19 >

The post This day in search marketing history: February 18 appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/search-marketing-history-february-18-393248

Using Margin Finance to Fund Your Business – What You Should Know

Home Business Magazine Online

You can increase your buying power by borrowing money. It is one of the most efficient ways for those who want to buy priced items such as properties that they cannot afford with cash. However, very few people know that they can do that using stocks.

As an investor, you can increase your buying power using stocks. You can also fund your business and do many other things using stocks. This, however, depends on your balance and the type of brokerage account you have.

This leads us to margin trading. Financial experts refer to it as leveraging your capital. However, is margin trading a good idea? Should you use margin finance to fund your business?

Here is what you should know;

What Is Margin Finance?

Margin finance can be defined as the collateral deposited by an investor with their exchange or broker and used to cover the investor’s credit risk for the exchange or broker. Investors create credit risks when they borrow money from brokers for different purposes, maybe funding their businesses.

If you have heard about margin finance, chances are high that you have also heard about buying on margin. This is what happens when you borrow part of the required money from a broker. You make the initial payment to a broker and then use marginable securities as collateral.

Margin finance is used when buying an asset that you cannot afford. Some investors use it to fund their businesses. Depending on what you want to do, it is important to understand the risks and benefits of borrowing on your existing securities.

Example of Margin Finance

Let us assume that you have $50,000 in your investment portfolio. You want $10,000 to fund your business. Unfortunately, you do not have this money. Looking at other borrowing options, you find that they are expensive and would not make sense.

You, therefore, decide to go for margin lending. Through your margin account, you withdraw $10,000 to fund your business.

By doing this, you will get the money you need to fund your business. In addition, then $10,000 remains as an investment in your portfolio. You will not miss out on any market returns since your securities remain intact.

Getting a Margin Loan

You will need to open a brokerage margin account before using margin finance to fund your business. In addition, you will also need a specific minimum equity in the account. This allows you to borrow against your investment portfolio.

However, it is important to note that your securities have to be marginable for you to use them as collateral. Different brokerages have different terms and conditions for margin finance.

This might include things like the portfolio value percentage one can borrow, equity requirements, and marginable securities.

Benefits of Borrowing on Your Existing Securities

Borrowing on your existing securities comes with more flexibility especially on repayment compared to mortgages, personal loans, or fixed-term loans. It allows you to gain liquidity without affecting your existing investment portfolio.

Looking at the example discussed above, for instance, you can fund your business while still retaining your portfolio. You get the money you need for your business without affecting your securities. Your investment objectives remain on track even though you borrowed money against your securities. It also helps you avoid catastrophes when investing your money.

Borrowing on your existing securities increases your buying power. With margin finance, you can invest more money than you can afford. If, for instance, you want to invest in high-share-priced stocks, then margin finance might be the only way for you.

It also allows you to diversify. If you decide to use cash, you might be able to invest in a few stocks. However, if you borrow on your existing securities, you can buy many stocks without liquidating your existing portfolio. This allows you to spread your risks.

Risks of Borrowing on Your Existing Securities

No matter how good a financial product might look, it must have some risks. One of the notable risks of borrowing on your existing securities or margin finance is a margin call. It is also referred to as a maintenance margin call.

Depending on the market, you might find yourself in a situation where the value of your portfolio’s securities fluctuates. When this happens, the value of the money you have borrowed against your existing securities does not change.

When your portfolio’s value falls to a certain point, you might have your brokerage issuing a margin call. This requires you to increase your marginable securities or add money to your margin account in a bid to get your equity to the required or accepted level.

You, therefore, need to keep checking your margin loans since they increase your risk levels. Your portfolio’s value can fall or rise depending on the market. In case of a fall, you might be forced to sell your securities, buy more eligible securities, or deposit cash into your margin account. This makes margin finance suitable for short-term investments.

Is Margin Finance the Best Option?

A bigger percentage of business owners borrow money to fund their businesses. They find themselves in situations where they need funds that they do not have in cash. When this happens, they can borrow considering things like good interest rates, repayment terms, and easier access to funds. Margin finance is the best bet for business owners.

The post Using Margin Finance to Fund Your Business – What You Should Know appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/business-start-up/raising-money/using-margin-finance-fund-business-know/

The Benefits of In-Person Events for Remote Companies

Home Business Magazine Online

By Amanda Reseburg

During the pandemic, remote work became quickly became standard practice across many parts of the world. According to studies, 56% of global companies allow for some remote work, whereas 16% are now entirely remote. The pandemic impacted the ability of many teams to gather in person, but now that remote work is far more accepted, some are finding that disconnect persisting.

But even if a company is 100% remote, they do not have to sacrifice in-person events that can help with team building and company growth. When a company dedicates itself to being intentional about bringing its remote employees together, it can build some incredibly beneficial (and fun) in-person opportunities.

Bringing people together

Shiela Mie Legpasi, President of the all-remote company Cyberbacker, knows the myriad of benefits of remote work. After all, it was going remote that changed her life’s trajectory.

“When I was presented with the opportunity to work remotely from home, it changed the structure of my entire life,” Legpasi shares. “Working remotely has allowed people like myself to support their families while remaining present for children.” Maintaining a remote workforce is also cost-effective for companies and opens up options for a workforce in a labor-shortage climate.

However, as anyone who works remotely can tell you, the connection with one’s coworkers can be challenging in a remote environment. Where once we could team-build and foster connections with each other face-to-face, a shift to a remote workplace has left some wondering if there is a place for the in-person event anymore.

To Legpasi, any work situation needs a measure of balance — or, as she says, counterbalance — to work effectively for all parties. Investing in in-person opportunities for remote employees could give those employees some of that balance they may be looking for.

According to recent research, 62% of remote workers felt that limited social interaction with their coworkers negatively affected their mental health. To find this counterbalance, many companies are extolling the benefits of in-person events.

The benefits of face-to-face

When your company team is spread all over the country or even worldwide, it can seem nearly impossible to gather them all together in person on a regular basis. Yet, many companies are making an effort to do at least one “all-hands” meeting a year. Annual meetings allow teams that work remotely with one another to meet face-to-face, interact, let their hair down, and share bonding time.

For CEOs, in-person meetings and events allow for timely business decision-making, foster more strategic thinking, and also help boost the economy through travel and hosting money spent in various locations. As productive as people are remotely, and as much as remote work can help with retention, there really is no substitute for a friendly handshake, a dinner with coworkers after a day of productive meetings, or bending the ear of the company CEO in person. While Cyberbacker has mastered replicating interpersonal communication through Zoom and popular text-base communication platforms like Slack, Legaspi emphasizes that in-person meetings are still crucial to their culture when possible.

With all of the benefits of in-person events and meetings, it would behoove even the most ardent remote work supporters to consider planning an in-person meetup, even if it is only annually.

One of the biggest wins for remote workers is the chance to get back some semblance of balance in their lives. Whether that be structuring a work-from-home schedule that works better with their family schedule or if it’s a job that gives them a chance to do some hybrid work in the office and at home.

Whatever the workplace structure, the value of in-person meetings and events is clear. As Legpasi stresses, it is all a part of a workplace that recognizes the need for balance.

“Sometimes, the necessary work requires one to come in early, work late, or work during the weekends,” she explains. “As a counterbalance, vacation time is widely available, and I can completely focus on my family during that time. Leaders will tell you that you will fail if you lean too far one way or the other. Burnout will be inevitable.”

Final thoughts on in-person events

With employee retention and avoiding burnout high on the priority lists of leaders, giving credence to the need for valuable in-person interaction with flexible remote work time is essential. It could go a long way toward creating a healthy and happy work environment for all.

About the Author: Amanda Reseburg has been a freelance journalist since 2016, with work featured in Scary Mommy and the Beloit Daily News. She was a creative entrepreneur for 13 years and founded her own hospice photography volunteer program, profiled by PBS. She lives in Orlando with her husband and three children.

The post The Benefits of In-Person Events for Remote Companies appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/management/employees/benefits-in-person-events-remote-companies/

Microsoft proposes AI ads in Bing

During a recent private meeting with a leading ad agency, Microsoft presented a demo of the updated Bing and revealed its intention to permit paid links within search result responses, according to an anonymous ad executive who attended the meeting.

Big plans for the future. Microsoft anticipates that the Bing AI chatbot’s more human-like responses will attract a larger user base for its search feature, resulting in an increase in advertisers. Additionally, advertisements incorporated within the Bing chatbot may have a greater presence on the page compared to typical search ads.

According to an ad executive who attended the meeting, Microsoft is currently experimenting with ads in the initial version of the Bing chatbot, which is accessible to a restricted number of users. Reuters has also reported seeing such ads this week.

Microsoft stated that it is incorporating conventional search ads – a form of advertisement where companies pay to have their websites or products displayed on search results for keywords relevant to their business – and integrating them into responses produced by the Bing chatbot.

What Microsoft says. Nothing. Microsoft declined to comment on the specifics of its plans.

The new Bing. Microsoft’s redesigned Bing search engine, which has a waitlist of millions of people seeking access, presents a highly profitable prospect for the company. In an investor and press briefing held last week, Microsoft announced that each percentage of market share it captures in the search advertising market has the potential to generate an additional $2 billion in advertising revenue.

Users who have tried the new Bing experience say that it’s lightning fast and better than expected. But some are also experiencing erratic, gaslighting, and somewhat emotional responses from Sydney (the ChatGPT AI).

Why we care. Microsoft’s plans to monetize its revamped Bing search engine and chatbot has the potential to expand its target audience and provide them with more prominent ad placement on the page.

The Bing chatbot’s more human-like responses could attract a larger user base, resulting in increased exposure for ads displayed within the chatbot. Additionally, the integration of conventional search ads into the chatbot’s generated responses can provide advertisers with an opportunity to reach a wider audience while also having their ads displayed more prominently on the page.

Microsoft’s plans to capture a greater market share in the search advertising market could also signify increased competition for Google, giving advertisers another avenue to explore for their advertising campaigns.

The post Microsoft proposes AI ads in Bing appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/microsoft-proposes-ai-ads-in-bing-393301

Google warns against using 403 or 404 status codes for Googlebot crawl rate limiting

Google is warning against using 404 and other 4xx client server status errors, such as 403s, for the purpose of trying to set a crawl rate limit for Googlebot. “Please don’t do that,” Gary Illyes from the Google Search Relations team wrote.

Why the notice. There has been a recent increase in the number of sites and CDNs using these techniques to try to limit Googlebot crawling. “Over the last few months we noticed an uptick in website owners and some content delivery networks (CDNs) attempting to use 404 and other 4xx client errors (but not 429) to attempt to reduce Googlebot’s crawl rate,” Gary Illyes wrote.

What to do instead. Google has a detailed help document just on the topic of reducing Googlebot crawling on your site. The recommended approach is to use the Google Search Console crawl rate settings to adjust your crawl rate.

Google explained, “To quickly reduce the crawl rate, you can change the Googlebot crawl rate in Search Console. Changes made to this setting are generally reflected within days. To use this setting, first verify your site ownership. Make sure that you avoid setting the crawl rate to a value that’s too low for your site’s needs. Learn more about what crawl budget means for Googlebot. If the Crawl Rate Settings is unavailable for your site, file a special request to reduce the crawl rate. You cannot request an increase in crawl rate.”

If you can’t do that, Google then says “reduce the crawl rate for short period of time (for example, a couple of hours, or 1-2 days), then return an informational error page with a 500, 503, or 429 HTTP response status code.”

Why we care. If you noticed crawling issues, maybe your hosting provider or CDN recently deployed these techniques. You may want to submit a support request with them to show them Google’s blog post on this topic to ensure they are not using 404s or 403s to reduce crawl rates.

The post Google warns against using 403 or 404 status codes for Googlebot crawl rate limiting appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-warns-against-using-403-or-404-status-codes-for-googlebot-crawl-rate-limiting-393303

Buy-Now Pay-Later Firms to Face New Legislation

Reading Time: 2 mins

Buy-now pay-later firms to face new legislation.

The government has announced eagerly awaited plans to regulation ‘buy-now pay-later’ (BNPL) companies. BNPL allows consumers to buy goods and services and pay for them later in instalments. These are typically interest free instalments, which appeals to many shoppers. 

However, there are concerns about people falling into debt when using these schemes, particularly as the cost-of-living crisis rattles on. Users of BNPL firms are not entitled to breathing space if they cannot repay their instalments. Similarly, they are not entitled to compensation, should anything go wrong.  

The Treasury has said up to 10 million people would be protected from potential financial harm as the result of the new measures.  

In a bid to stop unconstrained borrowing, lenders will now have to do more thorough checks on borrowers. These include more in-depth affordability checks and offer clearer information on loans. Customers will also have the power to make complaints about BNPL firms to the Financial Ombudsman. 

BNPL has soared in popularity in recent years, however they have remained largely unregulated. The government first proposed regulation to BNPL back in 2021, and it has been long-awaited legislation. 

New rules for bnpl

Under the new legislation plans, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will be given powers to clamp down on firms who break rules. Previously, the FCA have had to rely on consumer rights laws in the absence of specific legislation when BNPL firms have not followed specific rules or are deemed to have treated customers unfairly. 

The new rules will also mean firms must be licensed by the FCA. Tougher advertising rules would also come into place, and the FCA will also have the power to ban companies from further lending should they break the rules. 

The new laws are expected to come into force before the end of the year. 

The post Buy-Now Pay-Later Firms to Face New Legislation appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/buy-now-pay-later-firms-to-face-new-legislation

7 hacks to keep food fresher for longer

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HelloFresh feed a family campaign

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Did you know, most food waste within the UK comes from within your home? You may think it’s the large corporations and supermarkets creating the most waste, but in fact, individual households cause the majority of food waste. We all need to find ways to keep food fresher for longer and prevent this waste.

In the UK alone, 6.6 million tonnes of food are wasted every single year. This costs £284 per person, per year. That’s almost £300 which could be put towards bills, rent or mortgage payments. Even more shockingly, in the US, 31.9% of food bought is wasted, costing $1,866 annually per household – that’s about £1,522!

As the cost-of-living crisis rages on, it’s more important than ever to keep your food fresher for longer and ensure we are using all the food we buy. Not only will this prevent waste but save us precious pennies.

Here are 7 top hacks to help you keep food fresher for longer. Some of them may surprise you!

 

Use vinegar on your berries

This slightly weird, but wonderful hack comes from TikTok user @westwing. In a viral video, they suggest washing your berries in diluted vinegar. This keeps your berries fresher for up to two weeks, without compromising the flavour of the berries. Give it a go and see if it works!

 

Keep veggies crunchy

Appliances, Tools & Housewares (NEC)

Another hack from the same TikTok user suggests putting vegetables such as celery, peppers and carrots straight into the fridge when unpacking your food shop is a huge no-no. Wash your veggies before placing them into an airtight container or Tupperware with a small amount of fresh water in them. This will keep your produce crunchy and fresh for up to a month!

This prevents waste from a half-eaten pepper or avocado. Simply wash the remainder of the food item, pop it in your container and voila, no more grey avocados or squishy celery.

 

Herb swaddling

Yes, this method does involve wrapping up and swaddling your herbs like a precious newborn. But it is totally worth it for saving your herbs and boosting their life span. It’s simple, too.

Herbs often don’t last long at all, and it can be totally frustrating opening the fridge to wilted basil and rotting coriander. Remove any rubber bands or plastic ties from your herbs, run them under the tap and place them on a clean, dry tea towel or some kitchen roll. Once your herbs are dry, wrap them in damp paper towel and place them in a plastic zip lock bag or container. Your herbs will stay fresher for longer.

 

Keep your biscuits fresh

Berry

One of the most heart-breaking moments in life is when you go to the biscuit tin, excited to munch on a custard cream whilst you have your cuppa, only to find your biscuits have gone stale. But don’t fear, stale biccies are a thing of the past, thanks to TikTok user @lifetipsing.

This hack suggests putting a slice of bread in your biscuit tin – a good way to use the heel of your loaf of bread if you aren’t a fan of eating it. The science behind this? The biscuits will draw moisture from the bread, keeping them softer for longer. No more hard-as-a-rock cookies when you have your morning tea.

 

Give your basil a new lease of life

As previously mentioned, herbs can be super hard to maintain. But popping your cuts of basil in a small pot of water, as you would a bouquet of flowers, keeps it going for longer. Refresh the water in the pot every few days, and you’ll be adding your basil to spag bols, risottos and pesto for a while to come.

 

Protect your potatoes

Condiments

Do you buy potatoes but never use them fast enough? Do they sprout and turn green before your eyes? Well, you are in luck, because TikTok user @thismumcooks has an amazing hack for you.

Peel and chop your potatoes. You may choose to cut some into chips, wedges or even for use as roast potatoes down the line. Par boil your tatties, then allow them to cool. Once cool, place them on a baking tray and freeze them. Once your potatoes have frozen, pop them into freezer bags, ready to use at dinner time or with a Sunday lunch.

 

Fruit spray

Homemade fruit spray is a quick, easy and cheap method of keeping your fruit fresher for longer. Apples will be crispy and juicy for longer, so no more mushy fruit. Simply combine 230ml of water with 230ml of vinegar and a few drops of lemon juice. Spray on your fruit to keep it fresher for longer and maintain that recently bought aesthetic for your fruit bowl.

 

What are your favourite tips for keeping food fresher for longer?

The post 7 hacks to keep food fresher for longer appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/7-hacks-to-keep-food-fresher-for-longer

Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube, is stepping down

Susan Wojcicki, one of the longest-serving Googlers is stepping down as the CEO of YouTube after nine years in that role and 25 years at Google. In her personal update blog post she said, “after nearly 25 years here, I’ve decided to step back from my role as the head of YouTube and start a new chapter focused on my family, health, and personal projects I’m passionate about.”

Over her 25-year career at Google, she “managed marketing, co-created Google Image Search, led Google’s first Video and Book search, as well as early parts of AdSense’s creation, worked on the YouTube and DoubleClick acquisitions, served as SVP of Ads, and for the last nine years, the CEO of YouTube,” Susan Wojcicki wrote.

Susan took the CEO of YouTube role in 2014 when Google did a large executive restructuring. Four years prior to that, Susan was promoted as Senior Vice President at Google, one of eight Googlers at that time with that title.

Neal Mohan. Neal Mohan will be taking over as the Senior Vice President and new head of YouTube. Neal came to Google in 2007 when Google acquired DoubleClick for $3.1 billion. Neal became the SVP of Display and Video and later became YouTube’s Chief Product Officer in 2015.

YouTuber’s thoughts. Here are some thoughts from well-known YouTubers on this change:

Why we care. YouTube is an important platform, not just for consumers and not just for creators but also for advertisers. It will be interesting to see if anything significant changes across the Google Ads platform with this leadership change.

Susan Wojcicki has been one of the constants at Google and now that is coming to and end.

The post Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube, is stepping down appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/susan-wojcicki-the-ceo-of-youtube-is-stepping-down-393242