Dominate search results with your SEO dream team by Edna Chavira

Chavira
Edna Chavira

Ever wondered how to structure an SEO team for unparalleled success? Join us on Tuesday, April 23rd for this webinar where our panel will guide you through the proven strategies to build a dynamic and scalable SEO program.

You’ll discover how a well-structured team can overcome and outperform unpredictable algorithm updates and dive into the art of determining the ideal SEO team structure (and where SEO should sit) that aligns with your business goals and ensures optimal collaboration between departments.

RSVP today for Beyond the Search Bar: Crafting an Impactful SEO Team Structure and Defining its Place in Your Organization and uncover the secrets to building your dream SEO team.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/dominate-search-results-with-your-seo-dream-team-439714

5 alternatives to the missing Page Timings report in GA4

Optimizing for page speed: 5 alternatives to the missing Page Timings report in GA4

Page load speed, among other Core Web Vitals, is a known Google organic ranking factor. While we have the PageSpeed Insights tool, it unfortunately only works on one page at a time. 

The Page Timings report in Universal Analytics surfaced specific pages on your site that were slowest, allowing you to prioritize which pages to evaluate and optimize.

The tool was particularly helpful if you have a large site with thousands of pages to analyze. Armed with the list of problem URLs, you could then prioritize pages for review using the PageSpeed Insights tool.

But Google didn’t include the Page Timings report in GA4, so where can you find similar information now? 

Below are several free and paid tools that can help you pinpoint your problem pages and prioritize their optimization.

1. Google Search Console

  • Pros: Free.
  • Cons: Highly manual, no API connections.

Google Search Console (GSC) provides a Core Web Vitals report and even separates the data by mobile versus desktop.

However, while GSC provides some examples of URLs affected, it doesn’t provide a full list. Instead, it groups pages together and shows examples from the group. The data is also not easily downloadable to a CSV for monitoring.

If your goal is regular monitoring, you’ll need to log in to GSC and review the data within the tool. The GSC API does not support exporting core web vitals report data, so you can’t pull GSC data into Looker Studio or other visualization tools.

2. Screaming Frog

  • Pros: Thoroughly indexes sites, connects to PageSpeed Insights API (with a key you provide), scheduling available.
  • Cons: Paid tool, desktop-based.

A long-time favorite of SEO professionals, Screaming Frog software has many helpful SEO applications, but the most important thing for this article is that it provides page load times. 

It can further be connected to the PageSpeed Insights tool using a key from the PageSpeed Insights API to import Core Web Vitals data directly into the PageSpeed report:

Screaming frog - Page speed 1

The only real drawback to Screaming Frog is that because it’s a desktop-based application, the computer you host it on has to be turned on and connected to the web when the report runs. This makes the tool less optimal for dashboarding and highly regular data monitoring.

One workaround is to have a desktop computer that is always turned on. I did this in my agency for many years with a dedicated, old desktop computer running Screaming Frog. 

Because the tool allows for scheduling, the scheduled report can run at the appointed time as long as the computer is on and connected to the internet. Additionally, you can connect Screaming Frog to a Google Drive account and export the report tabs to Google Sheets:

Screaming frog - Page speed 2

If you want to use the upload for dashboarding, choose the Overwrite files in output, which will allow you to just update the same Google Sheet.

Once the data is in a Google Sheet, you can import it into other platforms, such as Looker Studio, to create dashboards and visualizations or create thresholds to send email alerts using Apps Script.

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3. Ahrefs

  • Pros: Thoroughly indexes sites, scheduling available, cloud-based application, connects to the PageSpeed Insights API (with a key you provide).
  • Cons: Paid tool, manual data export.

Ahrefs has long been an SEO favorite for tracking backlinks, but the tool also has a robust site audit tool that tracks page load speed as it indexes a website.

Like Screaming Frog, you can connect PageSpeed Insights directly to the site audit to see specific core web vitals optimizations that should be made:

Ahrefs - Page speed

While you can export reports to Google Sheets, it’s a manual process. Site audits can be scheduled for regular intervals.

Unfortunately, the Ahrefs API doesn’t appear to have a way to automatically export the results, leaving it a bit of a manual process and less than ideal for dashboarding and near real-time reports.

4. Semrush

  • Pros: Thoroughly indexes sites, scheduling available, cloud-based application, connects to the PageSpeed Insights API (no key needed).
  • Cons: Paid tool, manual data export.

Another popular SEO tool is Semrush, and it also has a site audit feature that reviews page load speed and lists the pages with the longest load times:

Semrush - Page speed

Unlike Ahrefs and Screaming Frog, you aren’t required to enter a personal PageSpeed Insights API key to connect core web vitals optimization information directly to the audit.

Again, with this tool, however, the data export for this report is manual. Semrush has an API, though, and it will report on page load speed issues. However, the API is only available for business plans and higher, which start at $499/month.

5. Add page speed into GA4 using custom dimensions

  • Pros: Free, measures actual user data for page load speed by page, scheduling not required, cloud-based application.
  • Cons: Only begins tracking data once implemented (no historical data), doesn’t automatically connect with PageSpeed Insights API.

Another option to restore page load speed in Google Analytics is to create a custom dimension. You can use that custom dimension to create an Explorations report, import data into Looker Studio or export data using the GA4 API or various tools that incorporate the API.

Measure School has an excellent tutorial on how to track page load speed using Google Tag Manager and custom dimensions in GA4. 

Multiple free and paid tools can export your list of slow pages using the custom dimension to Google Sheets, including the free Google Sheets extension GA4 Reports Builder for Google Sheets.

Unlike its predecessor in Universal Analytics, this extension does not have scheduling capability. I personally use Supermetrics, which is a paid tool but provides me access to multiple APIs, including GA4, and allows me to schedule reports.

Connecting with the PageSpeed Insights API

Once you have your list of the site’s slowest pages, though, you’re not completely finished! Screaming Frog, Ahrefs and Semrush pull Core Web Vitals optimizations into their platforms using the PageSpeed Insights API. 

If you’re not using one of those tools, you’ll either need to interrogate each URL in the PageSpeed Insights tool manually, one by one, or you can also use the PageSpeed Insights API to make those queries for you.

If you’re not a web developer or skilled with coding, there are fortunately tools that you can use to tap into APIs, including the PageSpeed Insights API, to get the specific core web vitals details you need for optimization.

My personal favorite is Zapier, which has a webhook zap allowing even non-developers a simplified way to connect your list of slow URLs to the PageSpeed Insights and pull in whichever data points are most important:

Connecting with the PageSpeed Insights API - Zapier

Optimizing images can often be a quick way to improve page load speed. In the zap example above, I only pull in image details for each URL for a site with over 10,000 pages. This allows me a fast way to find:

  • Which pages are slowest.
  • Of those pages, which ones are slow due to images that should be resized.
  • Make a list of the images that should be resized and prioritize them by greatest load time saved per image.

The benefit of this approach is that it truly can provide near-real-time reporting and dashboarding, whereas the other solutions still have drawbacks that make them less than ideal for dashboard reports.

However, you continue to measure page load speed for organic search optimization, each solution requires some set-up and work. So, if you haven’t already started on a solution, get started immediately so that you can quickly mine quick wins for SEO and improve your problem pages.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/alternatives-page-timings-report-ga4-439720

The Future of Lending: How Technology is Shaping the Loan Industry

Home Business Magazine Online

The world is at an intensely interesting time in history with the development of new technologies such as blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. These technologies are shaping the direction of change in many industries, such as banking and finance, which is affecting the future of lending perhaps most of all. 

Fintech Solutions for Loan Applications

Financial Technology (Fintech) is being used to make the process of loan applications from lending websites much easier. Lenders can use the latest versions of Loan Origination Software (LOS) to pull together information on the finances of loan applicants. They can bring in other information that relates to the borrower, such as their utility information and address confirmation from the electoral roll. 

Being able to access all of this information quickly and leveraging real-time data analytics to sort through it, transforms how loans are provided, not just in the UK but around the world from loan industry websites. The future of the financial services sector is both data-rich and cloud-based. The advances in blockchain technology are now allowing for much more secure transactions as well.

Speedy Disbursement and Instant Approvals

This use of fintech allows for more comprehensive checks than ever before on the financial status of individuals applying for loans. It can even allow for rules-based decisions to be taken automatically, depending on several different factors and how they interact together. In this way, decisions can be made on a much faster timescale, and employees can free up some of the time that these tasks might otherwise have taken them. They are able to offer very quick loans to their clients.

The faster disbursement of loans is something that the industry has aspired toward for some time now, and the technology underpinning this is now finally at the stage where it works at the required level. It is now possible to approve loans instantly when people apply online and meet certain criteria. 

Personalised Loan Solutions

The more extensive use of data that the latest generation of fintech solutions has enabled means that consumers can be offered much more personalised loan products based on their own unique financial situations. This is a game changer for the future of lending, and it can make a real difference in the viability and profitability of personal loans. 

Being able to make micro-tailored loan offers based on the depth of data that is now available means that consumers can receive offers that they are far more likely to accept. This also reduces the risks for the lenders as they have a vast pool of data to draw from, including credit scores, utility costs and spending habits. 

When this information is fed in along with marital status, whether they have any dependents and all manner of other data points, it is possible to create a very detailed lifestyle profile. This profile can then be used to extrapolate the most relevant loan products to target the customer individually. It can also be used to compare with similar profiles and look at which products worked for them, as these may also prove relevant. 

AI in Fraud Prevention

In the future of lending, companies are using artificial intelligence in fraud prevention. The machine learning models currently being developed can look at the characteristics of fraudulent cases and pattern match, extrapolating which loan applications may merit more human attention and verification.

These are often patterns that may be missed by humans involved in fraud prevention but can be analysed and picked up on by the lightning-fast computational abilities available to financial institutions through the use of cloud-based computing. The mixture of on-site computers and linked cloud computers, all working in unison, can crunch calculations in real-time and alert human operators to anything that fits the patterns most commonly seen in fraud.

The post The Future of Lending: How Technology is Shaping the Loan Industry appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/money/raising-money-money/future-lending-technology-loan-industry/

Maximizing Profits: How Cash House Buyers Are Revolutionizing the Real Estate Market

Home Business Magazine Online

In a world where change seems the only constant, technology and innovative strategies have transformed traditional marketplaces, even in the realm of real estate. A new breed of buyers called ‘cash house buyers’ is disrupting norms and remapping the real estate market. This revolutionary shift could spell lucrative opportunities for sellers and provide a fresh take on property investment.

Cash Buying Explained

The emergence of cash house buyers brings fresh intrigue. These entities are largely investors who, with readily available capital, purchase properties outright without relying on mortgage financing. You might be wondering why they would risk their funds in such large amounts. Well, their business model banks on lucrative returns after refurbishing the properties for either resale at higher prices or rental income.

Their offering is unique – a fast transaction, eliminating hassles tied to property chains or loan delays that sometimes plague traditional buying methods – quickly turning into an attractive option for home sellers seeking quick deals. Traditionally, purchasing a house often involves drawn-out bank procedures and hefty paperwork which can create room for potential hiccups making cash buying a solid choice.

With fewer contingencies and demands for inspections or appraisals, there’s an increased rate of deals closing successfully with minimal complications. For cash house buyers too, this speedy process means they can secure their newest house investment ahead of potential competition.

Cash House Buyers USA

In recent years, the USA has seen a surge of cash house buyers penetrating its real estate market. Notable names like Cash House Buyers USA, Opendoor, and WeBuyUglyHouses have become standard bearers operating.

Such growth has been driven by several factors. First, the USA presents a diverse landscape with plenty of distressed properties – from foreclosures to inherited homes – ripe for cash buying. Secondly, the marked increase in institutional investors willing to invest heavily in the housing market has supported this growth and broadened its reach farther.

Enhanced by adept use of technology for property assessments and pricing models, these players have effectively tailored their strategies for profitable scalability. They’ve established end-to-end digital platforms allowing seamless transactions with homeowners while orthodoxy continues to rely largely on age-old techniques.

Impact on the Real Estate Industry

The advent of cash buyers has undeniably rippled across the industry. In challenging traditional buying methods, they’ve sparked both intrigue and skepticism. Yet their impact is predominantly positive. They often step in where typical buyers fear to tread, taking up distressed, vacant or hard-to-sell properties.

This willingness to handle complex or ‘ugly’ situations provides a welcome solution for owners eager to sell but marred by tricky property issues. Consequently, neighborhoods benefit from revamped houses replacing derelict eyesores. Lastly, their rapid purchase timelines ease pressure on local real estate stocks.

In essence, cash buyers are not just market disruptors; they’re catalysts driving change within the industry by challenging antiquated norms, pushing for faster transactions and injecting immediacy into an otherwise protracted process.

Benefits for Home Sellers

For homeowners looking to sell quickly or struggling with unique property issues, cash house buyers could be the lifeline needed. The benefits they offer are matchless in comparison to conventional selling paths; these include fast sales often wrapping up within a week unlike months-long waits when listing with realtors.

Sellers also get to bypass the cost and stress of sprucing up their homes for potential buyers since cash buyers purchase properties ‘as is’. No need for tiring negotiations around repairs or improvements – it’s a smooth sail to a quick sale. This spares sellers from struggles with fussy buyers, inconvenient house staging, or missed work days due to incessant viewings.

Elimination of typical sale contingencies such as bank financing approvals reduces a potential deal’s collapse chances. With a cash offer, once an agreement on price is reached, it’s more or less a done deal.

Competitive Advantage

Finally, the competitive advantage cash house buyers wield over traditional players is undeniable. Their ability to make instant offers and close deals rapidly gives them an upper hand in a cutthroat market.

Sellers favor fast, guaranteed transactions; hence they likely lean towards guaranteed cash offers over mortgage-dependent ones. Furthermore, the simplicity offered by these companies – handling every aspect of the sales process, allowing homeowners to sell without lifting a finger – is an alluring prospect in an otherwise stressful journey.

In contrast, traditional methods pose several barriers that can deter prospective sellers. With cash buyers, however, homeowners can enjoy a hassle-free experience coupled with certainty that the transaction will conclude successfully and swiftly…all in all, it’s easy to see why they’re redefining the real estate market.

Avoiding Traditional Sale Hassles

With cash house buyers, one of the major benefits is the avoidance of typical issues that can arise during the conventional selling process. It’s not uncommon in traditional sales for contracts to fall through due to financing predicaments, unexpected home inspection results, or buyer cold feet. 

However, in a cash sale, these potential roadblocks are practically rendered obsolete – circumventing most problems that might slow down or outright halt the transaction.

Besides this, homeowners can sell their properties ‘as is’. This means bypassing the common stressor of embarking on potentially costly and time-consuming repairs or renovations to make the property more attractive to traditional buyers. It creates an avenue for homeowners who may not afford such improvements beforehand but still wish to sell.

Potential sellers do not have to concern themselves with the open-house staging circus that comes with conventional methods either. Homeowners are spared from multiple home viewings that disrupt their daily routines.

Lastly, paperwork associated with property transfers can be a nightmare for those unfamiliar with real estate jargons. Traditional home selling means enlisting lawyers or other professionals averting possible legal pitfalls – hence extra costs. However, respectable cash house buying companies typically handle all legal aspects, making the process smoother and worry-free for the homeowners.

Market Trends and Forecast

There’s no question that cash house buyers continue to shape real estate market dynamics. Aiding this trend is the increasing instances of distressed properties hitting marketplaces amidst economic uncertainties – creating a fertile ground for cash buyers operations.

Cash transactions already account for a significant share of overall residential sales in dominant markets like the USA. However, there’s strong potential for proliferation in emerging markets as technology eases barriers to entry and operations.

Demand for swift, hassle-free home sales isn’t going anywhere soon, neither are distressed properties or homeowners needing a quick sale. Moreover, as innovations continue to burgeon, these companies will keep finding ways to assess properties and engage sellers more efficiently – further fueling growth.

While the prospect of a 100% cash-house-buyers-dominated market might seem far-fetched in the near future, it is clear that their influence will persist given current course and speed.

Navigating Seller Misconceptions

The emergence of cash house buyers hasn’t been without occasional criticisms or misconceptions. One common illusion is that these companies prey on homeowners’ desperation to offload their properties only to severely undervalue them in return. While there are unscrupulous actors in any industry, reputable cash-buying firms substantiate their offers using accurate market data and provide transparent breakdowns of how these prices are derived.

Another misunderstanding is that the guarantee of a fast sale means sellers get their cash instantly upon agreement. However, legal procedures such as title deeds transfer and paperwork processing can take a few days. Sellers should bear this in mind – yet this process is considerably quicker than conventional routes. Educating yourself on what to expect can help debunk misconceptions and ensure a smoother transaction and experience.

Expanding Real Estate Opportunities

Skeptics might view cash house buying as an affront to traditional real estate norms but, on the contrary, they expand opportunities within the industry.

Their presence enriches diversification within real estate portfolios for savvy investors looking for faster returns. Homeowners get expanded selling options while potential home buyers gain access to renovated properties that would’ve otherwise remained distressed and uninhabitable.

Cash transactions expedite processes allowing quick ownership transition. This contributes immensely towards reducing housing inventory pressure in popular markets hence maintaining a healthy real estate industry balance.

Risks and Drawbacks

While the cash house buyers model carries numerous benefits for both sellers and the larger industry, it’s not entirely without drawbacks.

Firstly, there’s the question of price. It’s no secret that some cash buyers may offer below market value for properties due to their as-is buying policies and the quick sale guarantee. Homeowners in no hurry to sell may find better prices via traditional pathways by investing time and money into home improvements and marketing.

Secondly, homeowners should be wary of scams. Although major players like Zillow and Opendoor have legitimized this arena, not every cash-buying entity is trustworthy. Before engaging with any cash buyer, research their reputation extensively to avoid decentralizing con artists posing as genuine buyers.

Conclusion: The Shift

Cash house buyers are unquestionably redefining the real estate market – offering unparalleled speed, convenience, and certainty to sellers. Their imprint extends beyond individual transactions to broader market dynamics. While this approach may not suit everyone’s property-selling goals or circumstances, it’s undeniable that cash house buyers are here to stay – further reshaping the real estate landscape in years to come.

The post Maximizing Profits: How Cash House Buyers Are Revolutionizing the Real Estate Market appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/businesses/real-estate/cash-house-buyers-real-estate-market/

5 Professions Desperate for Workers

Updated 18th April 2024

With recovery slow after the huge economic impact of the pandemic, and current global upheaval disturbing markets, PLUS the cost of living crisis, it’s easy to see why many people are worried about their jobs, while others know it could be time to change careers to secure their future.

Here are some professions you should consider if you’re looking for a change:

 

1. Adult Social Care

Adult social care is a bigger employment sector than the NHS – and yet there are around 152,000 open vacancies. This number reduced slightly when the Government introduced the Health and Care Worker Visa, but with strict immigration laws in place now, the number of open vacancies remain open as retirement living centres, residential carers, and those working with adults with learning or physical disabilities in independent living homes cry out for support workers.

You don’t need qualifications to get started in many adult social care professions, as training will be provided. Hours can also be more flexible if you want a part-time job, and others might offer accommodation with the role as a live-in carer. If you’re compassionate and like people, adult social work could be for you. Most jobs will require a DBS check – it is worth registering for the annual check update to ensure your DBS is always up to date which makes moving jobs much easier.

2. Architects

This is one of those long-game professions that will pay off big time. Training to be an architect takes seven years – but the end result can be a healthy salary of £80,000 or more.

You can train solely on a university course, or take an architect apprenticeship which gives you work experience and a salary to learn ‘on the job’. Starting salaries for fully qualified architects are around £30,000 quickly rising to £75,000 or above, particularly in London and other metropolitan areas.

Architects are in demand as the UK tries to keep up with the need for more housing as well as improving city centres with public architecture that is accessible and provides pleasant surroundings. It is the type of job that will always be needed, even as we move into a digital age – computers can do the drawings, perhaps, but the vision and skill required will always be human-focused.

3.Programmers and Developers

Software developers and computer programmers are in increasingly high demand as world digitisation shows no sign of slowing down. Companies that previously had openly spoken against tech developments like AI are now investing in the UK and crying out for staff – such as Microsoft’s new centre for AI, which is opening in London soon.

It might seem that getting a computer job while we’re teaching computers how to run without our input is putting yourself out of a future job, but that won’t be the case. AI is a tool that will always need human input at some stage – and we’re still very early stages in the technology development. A software developer starting salary is around £26,000 but can quickly and easily rise to well into six figures for those who show they can handle complex scripts and have good problem solving skills.

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4. Plumbers, Bricklayers, Construction Workers

Professions that can’t be automated, like plumbers and construction workers, are in dire need of new recruits. A recent study by Checkatrade revealed over a million new recruits are needed in the trades to fill the huge skills gap the industry currently faces.

Some of the problem is recent changes to UK immigration law, which has eliminated a large portion of the potential workforce from qualifying and taking up vacancies. Schools are also not promoting the possibilities of apprenticeships to their students, while parents are worried about the stigma of taking an apprenticeship instead of following a university-based further career path and that it might limit their child’s financial opportunities.

These fears are unfounded: the average salary for a qualified contract plumber in the UK is £31,000 – and self-employed plumbers earn around 8% more. Bricklayers can expect to start on around £20,000 rising quickly to an average £46,000. Carpenters and joiners earn an average of £37,000 a year rising to over £50,000 with experience. These salaries also rise considerably if you take further qualifications and specifications, such as being able to operate heavy machinery.

5. Drivers

Logistics companies and local courier services are crying out for drivers. The pandemic saw so many businesses turn to online ordering and delivery – and most have kept it in the years since. Food delivery, for example, is a popular way for many people to earn some extra money on the side a few nights a week – and there are always vacancies because it’s a service that is in constant demand.

There is a national shortage of bus and coach drivers, which impacts travel infrastructure. Since the pandemic, there has also been a shortage of national and international HGV drivers. In response to this, the Government is considering relaxing the age rules from the current minimum age of 21, to allow for recruiting drivers from a wider age range.

Professions in driving don’t have to be something that takes you away from home for a long time – such as bus and coach drivers working relatively regular shifts in a local area on a salary around £30,000 a year. However, if you are prepared to drive longer distances, the salary can be significantly higher: an HGV driver can earn upwards of £50,000 a year.

 

 

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.

The post 5 Professions Desperate for Workers appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/5-professions-desperate-for-workers

Qualities of the Best Group Insurance Broker: A Comprehensive Guide

Home Business Magazine Online

When it comes to navigating the complex landscape of group insurance, having the right broker by your side can make all the difference. Group insurance brokers play a crucial role in helping businesses select and manage their employee benefit plans, ensuring they meet both the company’s needs and the needs of its employees. But what sets the best group insurance brokers apart from the rest? In this guide, explore the qualities that define top-tier group insurance brokers and why they are essential for businesses of all sizes.

Expertise and Experience

The best group insurance brokers possess extensive knowledge and experience in the insurance industry. They stay up-to-date on the latest trends, regulations, and products, allowing them to provide informed guidance and recommendations to their clients. Look for brokers who have a proven track record of success and a deep understanding of group insurance plans.

Customized Solutions

Every business has unique needs and priorities when it comes to employee benefits. The best group insurance brokers take the time to understand their clients’ specific requirements and tailor solutions that align with their goals and budget. Whether it’s designing a comprehensive health insurance plan or implementing a cost-effective wellness program, customization is key to meeting the diverse needs of businesses and their employees.

Transparent Communication

Clear and transparent communication is essential for building trust and fostering a positive working relationship between brokers and their clients. The best group insurance broker communicates openly and honestly, providing timely updates, explanations, and guidance throughout the insurance selection and implementation process. They are responsive to their clients’ questions and concerns, ensuring they feel informed and empowered to make decisions.

Strong Carrier Relationships

Group insurance brokers work closely with insurance carriers to negotiate rates, coverage options, and terms on behalf of their clients. The best brokers have established relationships with a wide network of reputable carriers, allowing them to access competitive pricing and comprehensive coverage options for their clients. These strong carrier relationships enable brokers to offer value-added benefits and services that may not be available through other channels.

Proactive Service and Support

Group insurance needs can evolve, and the best brokers are proactive in anticipating their clients’ changing needs and circumstances. Whether it’s conducting annual plan reviews, exploring new coverage options, or addressing unexpected challenges, top-tier brokers are there every step of the way to provide support and guidance. They act as trusted advisors, helping businesses navigate complex insurance decisions with confidence and peace of mind.

Compliance Expertise

Staying compliant with federal and state regulations is a top priority for businesses offering group insurance benefits. The best group insurance broker has in-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements and compliance obligations, ensuring their clients remain in good standing with governing authorities. They help businesses navigate the ever-changing regulatory landscape, mitigate compliance risks, and avoid costly penalties or fines.

Commitment to Client Success

Above all, the best group insurance brokers are deeply committed to their clients’ success and well-being. They prioritize client satisfaction and go above and beyond to deliver exceptional service and results. Whether it’s advocating for their clients’ best interests, resolving issues with insurance carriers, or providing ongoing support and guidance, top-tier brokers are dedicated to helping businesses thrive.

The best group insurance brokers possess a unique combination of expertise, experience, and qualities that set them apart in the industry. By partnering with a reputable broker who prioritizes customization, transparency, proactive service, and client success, businesses can navigate the complexities of group insurance with confidence and achieve their employee benefit objectives effectively.

The post Qualities of the Best Group Insurance Broker: A Comprehensive Guide appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/management/insurance/qualities-best-group-insurance-broker-guide/

How to Improve Your Professional Development Opportunities

Home Business Magazine Online

Every employee and business owner understands the importance of professional development and its benefits on their career. But, some professionals may feel like they don’t have as many professional development opportunities as they’d like which can hinder their progress and even stick them in a job rut. So how can you identify and improve your options? 

Ask Your Manager 

Often, the most straightforward solution is usually the one that works. If you want to do more with your role or explore other options within your company, asking your manager about employee training opportunities is a great place to start. Any serious company should provide a wealth of growth opportunities for employees who want them and all you need to do is ask. They should recommend options and highlight potential resources to explore. 

Enroll In Courses 

If your manager isn’t as forthcoming with professional development opportunities as you’d like, you can look at what people above you are doing and their qualifications. From here, you can enroll in online courses to gain the crucial skills required to enjoy exceptional professional development. This approach also gives you the chance to explore other roles. If you’re interested in a data analytics career and feel you have enough base knowledge to excel, there are courses available for you to gain certification, boost your skills, and bolster your resume. 

Network With Experts

Sometimes, it’s not what you know but who you know. With resources like LinkedIn, it’s never been easier to network with experts to learn more about the role you crave. Knowing how to network with experts is the first step and helps you get your foot in the door. You can arrange coffee chats or even introduce yourself at events where you may be able to borrow some of their time to have a quick talk about what you can do to develop your career. 

Try Things Yourself 

No one is going to take the lead for you, so it might be worth simply trying things yourself. Do you want to learn more about HTML and coding? Or how about understanding AI to be more effective at your job? Taking the initiative and trying these things in your free time helps you get to grips with things that can propel your career and ensure you have all the skills and tools necessary at your disposal. 

Track Your Growth 

Professionals who track their growth are more likely to excel as they have concrete evidence of where they are and can compare it to where they want or need to be. Use software to track your progress, whether you use a spreadsheet or even a notebook, and can see what you’ve learned, and what you know and find it easier to see how much further you have to go to ensure you are in the right place to demand more responsibilities, especially since you have evidence to back it up. 

Developing 

Professional development opportunities are fantastic to make positive changes to your career. If you feel stuck in a rut or not getting the chances you deserve, these tips will help you showcase your skills and take the initiative to improve where it matters.

The post How to Improve Your Professional Development Opportunities appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/management/how-to-guides-management/improve-professional-development-opportunities/

Brave Search unveils AI answer engine

AI lion

Brave Search introduced a new AI answer engine called Answer with AI. It will produce AI-generated answers “synthesized” from multiple sources for any query.

What is Answer with AI. Answer with AI, as the name suggests, uses AI to generate answers to queries directly in the search results. This new Brave Search feature appears above the organic search results.

The format varies slightly, depending on the query type. At the bottom, Brave includes a section called Context, underneath which Brave links to the sources it used to generate its answer. Based on a small number of searches I conducted, Brave tends to pull most of its answers from the top-ranking pages.

It follows on from Brave’s AI Summarizer feature, introduced last year.

How Answer with AI works. When a user enters a query, Brave is using large language models (LLMs), primarily Mixtral 8x7B and Mistral 7B, data from its search results and RAG (retrieval augmented generation) to generate answers nearly instantly.

When will users see Answer with AI. For informational, question-like queries, Answer with AI will be the default experience. For other query types (navigational, commercial, transactional), Answer with AI will be optional – you will click on an Answer with AI button.

What it looks like. Here’s an example search for [what is after gen z]:

Brave

And here’s what it looks like for a vanity search:

Brave Search

But it’s not perfect. It thought I was the same person/entity as the former Major League Baseball player who shares my name.

Brave Software

Brave Search size. Brave Search has an index of 20 billion webpages, has more than 1 billion location-based schemas and serves:

  • 27 million queries per day.
  • 10 billion queries per year.

Answer with AI availability. It is available on all platforms (desktop and mobile) for all searches in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Searching in any other languages may return answers in English language.

What Brave is saying about AI answers. The big concern among SEOs and content creators is how AI answers in the search results could potentially impact the amount of traffic search engines send to websites. Brave addressed this concern, telling Search Engine Land:

  • “Brave, as both a browser and search engine, is aware of these challenges. Consequently, we will be monitoring and quantifying the impact of AI-generated content on site visits, and eventually will address the disruptions that could be caused by the drop in traffic.”

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/brave-search-unveils-ai-answer-engine-439718

Meta could launch Threads ads this year

Meta Threads

Advertisers might be able to purchase ads on Meta’s Threads platform as early as the second half of this year. That’s according to a Digiday (subscription required) report citing multiple sources.

Why we care: Brands and marketers will soon have another way to reach their target audiences. Although Threads isn’t at the level of Facebook or Instagram (2 billion monthly active users), Threads gained 50 million followers in its first 24 hours of launch last year and now has about 85 million monthly active users. 

Timing. Meta’s discussions have reportedly focused on the rollout timeline rather than specific logistics about how or where ads will be integrated.

  • Beta testing for ad options is expected soon, though exact dates remain unknown, according to the report.

Where Threads Ads may appear. Threads ads will likely be integrated into Meta’s ad platform, Advantage+, alongside existing options for Facebook and Instagram.

  • Initial ad formats are anticipated to include in-feed placements, with potential expansion to trends and topics sections.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/meta-threads-ads-this-year-439739

YouTube escalates war on ad blockers

Ad blocking

YouTube has introduced two new measures in its crackdown on ad blockers. There will either be: 

  • Buffering issues.
  • An error message saying “The following content is not available on this app.”

Why we care. YouTube is doing all it can to ensure ads are seen by as many of its free users as possible. YouTube’s war on ad blockers will likely lead to disgruntled users who will abandon YouTube altogether. It’s either that or break down and pay for YouTube Premium to avoid excessive advertising. If the latter happens, YouTube will gain revenue, but ultimately that means advertisers will lose reach and exposure.

Enforcement on third-party apps. YouTube is now taking active measures to deter third-party ad blockers directly.

  • “We want to emphasize that our terms don’t allow third-party apps to turn off ads because that prevents the creator from being rewarded for viewership, and Ads on YouTube help support creators and let billions of people around the world use the streaming service,” according to TeamYouTube.

The story so far. This is the latest action YouTube has taken to curb the use of Ad blockers:

Is YouTube breaking privacy laws? YouTube needs to be careful in how it cracks down on Ad Blockers, as this could be seen as breaking privacy laws. Last October, privacy expert Alexander Hanff filed a complaint with the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC). 

Ad-free experience. The only ad-free experience YouTube promotes is YouTube Premium. It costs $13.99 in the US and £12.99 in the UK. 

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/youtube-escalates-war-ad-blockers-439704