Internet Marketing – Page 402

Do your Christmas lights meet safety standards?

Reading Time: 2 mins

According to consumer group Which?, many Christmas lights being sold online may not meet UK electrical equipment safety regulations, making them not only dangerous, but illegal.

Which? Tested lights from four retailers – eBay, Amazon, Wish and AliExpress. Shockingly, they found 10 of the 12 sets tested failed to meet UK safety regulations. With the price of each set of lights falling below £15, there is worry that the affordability of these could afford to more consumers buying lights with electrical faults or that fall below regulator standards.

All companies have now removed the lights from their websites, suggesting they take safety extremely seriously. Two sets from both eBay and Amazon failed compliance checks. They were either missing key safety markings or failed to come with instructions.

The consumer group is now calling for online marketplaces to take more responsibility. In fact, Which? Is suggesting legal responsibility be taken in order to stop illegal and unsafe products from being sold to consumers.

The risks

According to Berkshire Fire and Rescue, approximately 60% of house fires are caused by faulty electrical goods.

Some of the lights tested by Which? were found to have easily exposed wires posing a risk electric shock, as well as being a fire hazard. The same lights, sold by retailer Wish were also advertised as being waterproof, but with no evidence found by Which? to back this, the idea of false and misleading advertising when it comes to electrical safety is an extremely worrying prospect.

Which? Recommend that people buy Christmas lights from the high street or directly from a retailer that they recognise.

How to stay safe

Which? give some great tips for staying safe online:

Check your lights aren’t damaged when unpacking your decorations.
Look for things like loose wires, smashed bulbs or a broken control box.
If your lights need replacement bulbs, make sure you use the same type when you replace them.
Switch your lights off when you go out and when you go to bed.
Keep your lights away from anything that can burn easily.
If your lights look like they’ve seen better days, recycle them and buy a new set from an online or high street retailer you trust.

Sue Davies, head of Consumer Protection Policy, said:

“Cheap Christmas lights could be tempting for many of us trying to save money amid the cost of living crisis – but our latest research shows consumers could be putting themselves in danger due to online marketplaces failing to take safety seriously.

“The government must make online marketplaces legally responsible for dangerous and illegal products sold through their sites so that people are better protected.”

The post Do your Christmas lights meet safety standards? appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/do-your-christmas-lights-meet-safety-standards

What do increased interest rates mean for you?

Reading Time: 2 mins

Once again, the Bank of England is expected to announce increased interest rates. This will be the ninth consecutive hike in the last year, since December 2021. The latest meeting by the Monetary Policy Committee has resulted in an increased benchmark rate.

The benchmark rate currently stands at 3%, but is forecast to increase to 3.5%. The rate is already at its highest rate for 14 years, after it was increased in November from 2.25% to 3%, the sharpest single increase since 1989. These increases will be felt by both borrowers and savers across the UK.

But with forecasts of interest rates peaking at 4.5% next year, how do increases affect you exactly? Here, we will discuss how these changes could impact your finances.

Mortgages
Savings
Credit and loans

Mortgages

After a period of low-interest rates, those with a mortgage are now facing increased monthly repayments as a result of high-interest rates. From next year, around 4 million households will face more expensive mortgages, according to the Bank of England.

When the interest rate rise comes into force, approximately 1.6 million people will be impacted. These are mainly the people on variable and tracker mortgages. Half a percentage point added onto to the current rate of 3% will mean an added £49 a month for those n a typical tracker mortgage. Those on a standard variable rate mortgage could see £31 per month being added to their current payment.

On average, those on an average tracker mortgage are paying £333 more monthly compared to December 2021. This amount stands at £210 more per month for those on variable mortgages. This is an additional £3,996 and £2,520 being added to mortgages annually on average over the past 12 months.

In terms of fixed deals, they have also increased. An average two-year fixed deal stood at 2.29% in November 2021. This is now an average of just under 6%, adding hundreds of pounds of repayments monthly.

Savings

Banks and building societies are in charge of the interest rates they offer on their savings accounts. Although interest rates are the highest we have seen in many years, due to inflation outpacing these rates, the amount of money in cash savings accounts is losing value, in real terms.

This means the buying power of your money is still reducing due to inflated prices for good and services.

Credit and loans

Credit cards and loans are also impacted by the Bank of England Interest Rates. Loans could be car loans, bank loans or even debts.

In October of this year, the average annual interest rate on bank overdrafts was a whopping 20.73%. For credit cards, the annual interest rate was averaging at 19.31%, another eyewatering figure. This means it becomes more expensive to borrow money, and debt may grow.

Lenders may even choose to get ahead of increases and put their interest rates up further.

The post What do increased interest rates mean for you? appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/what-do-increased-interest-rates-mean-for-you

Claim tax back on energy costs if you work remotely

Reading Time: 3 mins

Can you claim tax back when you work from home? It’s cold, gloomy and the days are shorter than we may like. Snow has fallen in many parts of the UK, with many opting to work from home during this period to avoid traffic and delays on their commutes.

But with this comes the worry of energy prices being shifted from employers to employees. Working from home uses far more energy for the worker – from making cups of tea to charging mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and having lights on. It all adds up, with a higher cost being placed on those usually in an office or workplace.

Ofgem, the energy regulator within the UK, recently increased the energy price cap to £3,549 per year for dual fuel for an average household in October 2022. This has caused widespread worry for millions of households across the country. Plus, HMRC have closed phone lines and online services in recent weeks as the result of technical issues, leaving many Brits in limbo, with urgent queries about their tax returns.

What does it cost to work from home?

A recent study by leading tax-refund app, Tommy’s Tax found that 50% of Brits say the cost-of-living crisis is severely crippling their personal finances. Thus, many people are desperate for the tax-refunds they deserve in the current climate.

Half of the working population worked remotely during the peak of the pandemic and associated lockdowns, with 84% planning to continue their at-home work life, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Additionally, reports show that under the current energy price cap, an 8-hour day working from home could cost more than £30 per day – a huge hidden fee.

These costs are hidden, including heating, electricity and broadband connection costs. Improving tax literacy could provide taxpayers with the means to access tax returns without delay, and help those working from home both permanently and on a flexible basis, say Tommy’s Tax.

understanding tax

The research from Tommy’s Tax further found that over one third of Brits (36%) say tax is a topic in life they understand very little about. Just over one quarter of respondents (26%) said they haven’t even thought about their tax bill.

Tommy’s Tax encourage workers to discuss the cost of working from home with their employers. It is up to the employer whether they want to make payments for any additional costs incurred as the result of remote working. The payments are tax-exempt, so some employers may be encouraged to make these payments.

The tax-refund app also suggest that workers may be able to claim a flat rate tax relief of £6 per week. This is to help with the cost of energy and other costs associated with working from home. To claim this, workers do not need to keep receipts, however you must be contractually required to work from home – for example, if your employer does not have a physical office or workspace for you to use.

If workers keep receipts for utility bills such as gas, electricity and the internet, and be able to identify any changes that have occurred as the result of working from home, they may be able to claim tax relief on this. It is a more intrusive approach, but could result in a large amount being received back as the result.

Tommy Mcnally, CEO of Tommys Tax, says:

“The recent drop in temperatures has highlighted to many that there are lots of hidden costs related to working from home. While it may seem that workers are saving in lieu of not having to commute, they may be paying more than they expect when working from home in the form of gas, heating, electricity, broadband and so on. Here at Tommys Tax, we want to highlight that Brits can claim back tax in relation to nearly all of these costs.

“The issue is that there still is a huge knowledge gap when it comes to taxes, and our proprietary research highlights this. It’s more important than ever to stay well-informed in relation to taxes and what workers can claim back when it comes to their line of work.

“That is why we’re here to help with the entire process for workers across the country. One of the ways we help is by educating customers about the various tax rebates that people are eligible for, but don’t make use of and that is where we’re here to help. Taxes can be boring, confusing and anxiety-inducing, but if done right could make a real difference to people’s lives.”

The post Claim tax back on energy costs if you work remotely appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/claim-tax-back-on-energy-costs-if-you-work-remotely

The Best Cannabis Seeds Legally Available in 2022

Home Business Magazine Online

Since cannabis’s medicinal uses and health benefits have spread far beyond the confines of the traditional pharmaceutical industry, many governments are considering legalizing marijuana plantation for general use.

As a result, many home growers and entrepreneurs see it as an excellent opportunity to prepare themselves for seed planting and cultivation. One can also find adequate information regarding the various strains and varieties of cannabis more easily at farmerslabseeds.com with convenient details regarding how to buy cannabis seeds online.

The Most Reliable Seeds

Some of the best-known seeds, with a long track record of producing high-quality yields in a wide range of species, are as follows:

1. The Girl Scout cookies are, overall, considered to be the best marijuana seeds. It is a cross between OG Kush and Durban Poison. The primary effects of this hybrid are euphoria and physical relaxation. It’s not for novice users, but those with a high tolerance from smoking will enjoy its potency. The flowering process takes 10–14 weeks. The GSC is superior to other species because of its resistance to disease and its resilience. The strain thrives best in warm, dry climates, but it is more commonly grown in wetter climates, such as the Pacific Northwest.

They are also great for indoor growing as they are both feminized and auto-flowering, especially if one does not wish to deal with timers and light cycles. But, because of the high levels of caryophyllene present in them, a robust peppery terpene may be pungent when GSC flowers. There is also rarely any need to be concerned about a lack of space, as they grow into stout but compact plants that produce dense and resin-packed buds weighing over 420 grams when properly cared for. As for the correct techniques, one may use the “sea of green” strategy, that is, instead of growing a few plants tall, one keeps them as small as possible using the dense-packing method. This makes it possible to get more grams per square foot and to cut the time it takes to flower to at least 45 days, which speeds up the harvest.

2. The next one on the list is the White Widow Feminized. Funnily enough, its origins are as of yet unknown. Being a hybrid that is well balanced, it just takes about 8 weeks to flower and fares very well outdoors. Also, it does not succumb to bud rot or other diseases. Suffice it to say that this strain, being immensely resilient, makes a perfect choice for novice growers.

It is known to be extremely potent and to greatly stimulate the brain. It is excellent for relaxation therapy and buzz reduction. One may get about 350–400 grams from each plant. If planting indoors, one may look for the auto-flowering version for those unwilling to keep up with light timers and schedules.

cannabis — Photo by Kindel Media from Pexels

3. The next is Jack Herer Fast Feminized, which flowers the fastest yet, within 6-7 weeks, and is comparatively very easy to grow. In this span, the grower may expect a harvest of 400 grams for each plant.

4. Super Silver Haze Feminized is considered to be the best feminized sativa marijuana seed. It was viral from 1997–1999, and it is a hybrid that is sativa-dominant; it has a warm and long-lasting buzz that is energizing, which is also pleasantly mild. This strain is most commonly credited for creativity enhancement as its CBG content is higher than average; it helps one retain focus and sharpness in cognition. These female marijuana plants are some of the best to grow in climates that are harsh, as they are mainly resistant to diseases.

Points to Note About Breeding

When cultivating seeds, it is crucial to think about the breeder, as not all breeders contain healthy genetics. But even if you manage to find healthy male and female seeds, the hybrid may still be vulnerable to diseases because of the poor quality of the parent seeds.

Staying with breeders who have proven themselves to be reliable within the industry and who are well-known for the high-quality products that they produce in their seed banks is the simplest way to avoid problems of this nature.

In Conclusion

Knowing the different seeds on sale is important, but knowing which ones are right for a given buyer is even more so; the strains mentioned above will make up the vast majority of the market in 2022. Now that you are aware of all of this information, you will be able to select the option that is most suitable to meet your requirements.

The post The Best Cannabis Seeds Legally Available in 2022 appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/lifestyles/success-lifestyles/best-cannabis-seeds-legally-available-2022/

Google releases December 2022 link spam update

Just when you thought the Google Search updates were done for the year, Google has rolled out a December 2022 link spam update. This update will take about two weeks to roll out and is a global update.

What Google said. Google wrote, “Our launch today, which we refer to as the December 2022 link spam update, will take about two weeks to fully roll out. Ranking may change as spammy links are neutralized and any credit passed by these unnatural links are lost. This launch will affect all languages.”

SpamBrain for links. This is leveraging what Google calls SpamBrain, Google referenced it in the 2018 Google spam report, specifically the spam trends section where Google talks about its “machine learning systems” to improve search spam detection.

Google added that SpamBrain can not only “detect spam directly, it can now detect both sites buying links, and sites used for the purpose of passing outgoing links.”

Helpful content system still rolling out. Google is still in the process of rolling out the December 2022 helpful content system, while this spam update is rolling out.

Why we care. Again, if you see ranking declines in Google over the next two weeks, it might be related to this new link spam update. Ensure your links are natural and follow Google’s webmaster guidelines. Work on improving your site to naturally attract new links over time.

As Google wrote with previous link spam updates, “Site owners should ensure that they follow the best practices on links, both incoming and outgoing. Focusing on producing high quality content and improving user experience always wins out compared to manipulating links. Promote awareness of your site using appropriately tagged links, and monetize it with properly tagged affiliate links.”

The post Google releases December 2022 link spam update appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-releases-december-2022-link-spam-update-390336

New Google Analytics 4 Landing page report

There’s a new report in town, and it’ll help you evaluate and optimize the effectiveness of your landing pages Google Analytics 4 (GA4).

The new report will compare the following metrics:

Average engagement time per session
Conversions
New users
Views
Total revenue

Why we care. You can find the Landing page report in the Engagement topic in the left navigation of your dashboard. If the Engagement topic section isn’t there, you can add the report through the report library.

Use the report to evaluate the effectiveness of your landing pages. If you don’t have GA4 set up yet, use this guide to walk you through the process.

New report types. Google continues to add new report types in GA4. Here are the latest.

Dig deeper. Read the help article from Google to find out how to filter, customize, and adjust the report.

The post New Google Analytics 4 Landing page report appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/new-google-analytics-4-landing-page-report-390337

How Locksmiths Can Help Homeowners

Home Business Magazine Online

If you own a home, you’re likely concerned with ensuring its safety and security to protect your loved ones. Security has come a long way since the days of simple lock and key mechanisms. These highly technical innovations may be here to make life easier for us, but finding that you’re locked out of your home or car can be more than you’re prepared to handle. Have you considered calling a professional locksmith to help you sort out the details?

Why You Need a Locksmith

There are several reasons to consider hiring a locksmith to help keep you and your property safe and secure. Calling on these top-notch professionals in a time of need will give you peace of mind that you’ll get access to your property when you need it most. Consider the following scenarios as you search for your second set of keys.

Accidental Lockouts

Lockouts from cars and homes happen more frequently than we’d care to admit. Whether it’s access to your home or car that’s needed, a professional locksmith has the knowledge and tools to provide you access to your property without causing additional damage. You’ll get back into your home or car quickly and efficiently, without the need to take drastic measures to do so.

Rekeying

Rekeying a residence involves changing both key shape and the cylinder on a door lock. This is a process that requires the use of specialized tools and expertise that a locksmith uses to make a lock efficient once more. Whether you have inefficient keys, broken keys, or you need to change out a lock entirely, your friendly neighborhood locksmith will provide you with the needed components to make all of your entry points functional once more.

New Remotes

New remotes are needed for more than just high-tech cars. Your home security system, garage door, and even medical alert systems sometimes need an upgrade. If your access remotes are growing tired and worn out, it’s time to consider replacement through the capable services of a professional locksmith.

New Keys and Locks

If your home, business, or property have been broken into, you know the feeling of helplessness and violation that comes with such an event. Attempting to put the pieces back together after a break in can be difficult, and you’ll want peace of mind that your home is secured and safe once more. The only way to ensure this is to get new keys and locks for your home. A trained locksmith can easily provide new locks and custom-made keys to make your home safer and more secure. Attempting to install commercial locks on damaged doors yourself will ultimately lead to failure; leave it in the hands of professionals to help keep your home secure.

When You Left Everything in the Car

It happens. You come back from the grocery store or from running some errands and you’ve accidentally left your keys in the car and slammed the door shut. The horror. If you don’t have a spare key for your car or your house, you are left with no option but to call a car locksmith near me to give you access to the car again.

This is one of the most common situations that homeowners face.

High-Octane Systems

High tech security systems use electronic access panels and other innovative technologies to keep your property secure. This type of lock is programmed to only allow access to certain individuals. In the event that a system like this is compromised, you need the expertise of a professional locksmith to reset your system and make sure it is in good working order once more. Reprogramming access codes, remotes, and other means of entry can be confusing; let a trained technician handle these details to get you up and running once more.

Access to Safes and Lock Boxes

Storing your valuables in safes and lock boxes is a smart move…until you forget things like the combination or the location of your keys. When blasting it open yourself is not an option, finding a qualified locksmith to gain access to your valuables again is a preferred option. While you’re at it, make an extra set of keys for that safe or firebox, and keep them in a location separate from the first set.

Production Options and Service

A locksmith can provide you with the tools, products, and services to ensure that you have the best security options for your home, property, and even business. With both commercial and residential options available, you’ll be able to peruse the best in security technologies, choosing those components of home security that give you peace of mind for a better future.

While attempting to keep you home and property secure on your own is a valiant undertaking, this type of important work is best left to professionals. Employ the services of a locksmith to help you keep your most cherished people and possessions safe and sound.

The post How Locksmiths Can Help Homeowners appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/lifestyles/home-improvement/locksmiths-help-homeowners/

2 new Google data-driven attribution features

Google has just announced two new data-driven attribution features intended to introduce more transparency and make it easier for advertisers to switch.

Why we care. Google has already made it clear that they prefer advertisers use data-driven attribution as their preferred model. Advertisers who are unclear about the effects of this model should use the new simulation tool to estimate the effects of switching.

What’s new. Soon, Google will be launching a simulation tool for eligible advertisers that will allow you to see how automated bidding would have reacted to data-driven attribution over the last seven days. The tool is intended to help you understand the effects of data-driven attribution on your account before making the switch.

Google is also working to bring data-driven attribution to more advertisers and more ad types. Historically, data-driven attribution has supported Search, Shopping, Display and YouTube ads. Google is expanding its support to app conversions and will begin supporting Discovery formats (including those in Performance Max) next year.

What Google says. “Advertisers who switch to data-driven attribution from another attribution model typically see a 6% average increase in conversions.”

Dig deeper. You can read the announcement from Google here.

The post 2 new Google data-driven attribution features appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/2-new-google-data-driven-attribution-features-390290

Google launches visual elements gallery documenting 22 elements on the Google Search results page

Google has launched a new help page that documents what Google calls the most common visual elements on the search results page. Here Google has laid out visually 22 elements found on the search results page, explaining what the elements look like, what they are called, and whether you can optimize your site for them.

Visual Elements gallery of Google Search. You can find this new document over here in the Google help area. It helps you identify the most common and “impactful visual elements of a search results page,” Google said. The document has 22 visual elements that are most likely to appear on search result pages, Google added. It is broken down into these categories:

Attribution. The attribution elements are elements that help searchers identify the source behind the search result with visual identifiers like the name of the site, the URL, and favicon.

Text result. The text results elements are what we use to call the “10 blue links” and/or “web results.”

Video and image results: The video and image result elements are based on the respective media indexed in the context of their respective landing pages.

An image result element is a result that’s based on an image that’s embedded on a web page.

A video result is a result that’s based on a video that’s embedded on a web page.

Exploration features: The exploration features element is also known as “People Also Ask”, or related searches group or related questions group. Google said these visual elements help users broaden their search journeys.

Why we care. This is a good way for us to get more details from Google on the type of search features in Google Search. It also helps us understand if we can help our sites come up with such rich results or other visual elements. This will also aid us in standardizing what some features are called within the search industry. Finally, Google plans on updating this document as more and more features come out.

The post Google launches visual elements gallery documenting 22 elements on the Google Search results page appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-launches-visual-elements-gallery-documenting-22-elements-on-the-google-search-results-page-390289

Microsoft now requires verification for UK Financial Services advertisers

Starting early this year, Microsoft will allow only advertisers duly authorized by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to present regulated financial promotions in the UK. Advertisers will be required to provide proof of authorization by the UK FCA to present Financial Promotion Ads or specify if they’re either 1) a non-financial services advertiser who may target consumers seeking financial services, such as e-commerce platforms or 2) government entities such as authorities or regulators under the “.gov.uk” domain.

Why we care. If you live in the UK or advertise for a UK financial services company, you’ll need to start the verification process here.

Keep in mind. Microsoft says to keep the following into consideration:

These requirements are in addition to the Advertiser Identity Verification requirements laid out by Microsoft as part of its safety measures to protect consumers, advertisers, and publishers.
Failure to complete this verification process will result in ads being blocked from serving in the UK—the account will continue to perform as before with respect to non-Financial Services Ads and in markets outside of the UK.

Dig deeper. Read the announcement on the Microsoft blog here.

The post Microsoft now requires verification for UK Financial Services advertisers appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/microsoft-now-requires-verification-for-uk-financial-services-advertisers-390263