Paid online surveys reviewed

At MoneyMagpie we’re big fans of paid online surveys.

We think they’re a good way to make a bit of extra cash without having to put too much effort in – in fact you can read our complete guide to online surveys here.

But you still might not be sure which online survey sites are worth your time.

As Nick Green from Swagbucks explains, “taking paid surveys online is a great way to make money in your spare time…but you have to be patient and find the survey panel that works for you.”

That’s why we’ve taken the time to review every survey site we promote, so you know which ones you can trust, and which ones you should avoid.

Paid online surveys reviewed…

Branded surveys

Facts

Where it’s available: United States, Canada, and the UK
Age requirements: 16+ years old
Average earnings: $0.50 to $5 per survey
Payment method: Branded Pay (direct deposit in the United States), PayPal cash, gift cards, prepaid Visa card, or charitable donations
Minimum to cash out: 1,000 points

Good

4.5 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot
When you register as a new member, you’ll earn 50 points, then another 50 points will be credited to your account after filling out your profile (a $1 sign up bonus in total).
Once your account is created, you can immediately start taking surveys, which can be worth up to $5 each.
Branded Surveys’s loyalty program, Branded Elite, offers the opportunity for anyone to earn bonus points on a weekly basis.

Bad

Website design isn’t as straightforward as other survey sites

Sign up with Branded Surveys here.

Swagbucks

Facts

Points redeemable for gift cards or for cash through PayPal
Get 5 points for signing up
Earn swagbucks by answering surveys and polls, watching videos, playing games, searching the web with the SB search engine and with cashback shopping
At 450 SB you can get a £3 Amazon Voucher, £5 Amazon voucher = 720 SB or 800 SB for £5 in cash (top prize of £100 cash will cost you 16,000 SB – £100 Amazon Voucher = 14,400 SB and £100 at M&S = 13,600 SB)
Polls earn you 1 SB
1 minute Surveys earn you 4 SB
15 minute surveys earn you 70 SB
20 minute surveys earn you 80 SB
Earn 10 SB for signing up to promotional emails

Good

+ Lots of surveys to take

+ Earn SB by just answering quick questions about your preferences/lifestyle

+ Prize redemption straight forward and option of getting points converted into cash and not just gift cards

+ Loads of well known brands and shopping sites to earn cashback with such as eBay, Iceland, Dunelm and Notonthehighstreet.com

+ Didn’t receive any emails (these can be turned on for extra Swagbucks)

Bad

– Sections of the site encourage you to place gambling bets in exchange for high payout swagbucks but you ultimately spend more money placing the bet than you would get for your bucks.

– Most of the offers in the “Offers” section cost you money or require you to subscribe to something, most free offers are only worth 1-2 SB each

Visit Swagbucks

Inbox Pounds

Facts

Earn £1 for sign-up
Receive rewards for activities such as reading emails, taking surveys, playing games and signing up for offers
You can earn rewards from using the site’s web search facility
Joining and engaging with other sites can also earn you rewards

Good

+ You get a £1 just for signing up

+ You earn 40p for completing your profile (took less than two minutes)

+ You earn cash, not points

+ Presented with 5 surveys to complete on activation of account

+ Received a few emails within the first 15 mins just telling us how much we’ve earned and encouraging us to go to the site to earn more

Bad

– Layout is a little messy, but not too difficult to navigate

– To earn rewards from joining a game site and taking part in competitions you are required to deposit money first

Visit InboxPounds

Valued Opinions

Facts

Allows you to work towards gift card for popular retails (like M&S, Amazon and Argos)

Good

+ Easy to navigate

+ Lets you earn up to £5 per survey

+ A new feature on their website that allows people to find a survey for themselves from their dashboard

Bad

– Like all online surveys, you have to wait for a survey that is appropriate for you, which is often luck.

Visit Valued Opinions

Opinion Surveys

Facts

Surveys take anywhere between 5 to 30 minutes
Earn an entry into a £1000 prize draw for each completed survey

Good

+ Easy sign-up with simple personal questions such as age, gender, nationality and education

Bad

– Sometimes you don’t get entered because you weren’t what they were looking for

– Some of the surveys are quite slow to load

– We haven’t been emailed with further survey opportunities since signing up

Visit Opinion Surveys

RewardsTV-UK

Facts

Complete trivia games on shows you watched the night before to earn points and prize draw entries
You get 100 points per right answer
Includes questions about adverts during the breaks
Each day you play one trivia game you are entered into a £5,000 prize draw
Each day you play a second game you will be entered into a £1,000 prize draw
Points can be used for a variety of things including entries into £5,000 & £1,000 prize draws, to pay for Pay For My Stuff prize draws, auctions or exchanged for gift certificates
Minimum bid for auctions is 75,000 points
There are around 26 items you can bid on at one time, around 11 products and 15 gift cards
Auction items going from anywhere between 76,001 points for a Kraft infuser teapot to 5,439,000 points for a kindle fire tablet
Gift certificates cost between 75,000, 100,000 and 125,000 points with very limited availability
Pay For My Stuff prize draws give you the change to win £25 towards every day costs such as car repayments, TV bills, and groceries and cost 5,000 points to enter any one

Good

+ Quick easy sign-up that just asked for name, gender, age

+ Much more fun than other survey sites in our opinion. It’s a truly original concept.

Bad

– Limited availability for gift certificates

– Not great if you don’t watch much TV!

Visit RewardsTV – UK

The OpinonPanel Community

Facts

Aimed at students and those who have graduated within the past 5 years
Ages 16 – 30 only
Simple, clean, easy to navigate website with block colours and clear navigation panel
You are emailed surveys you’re selected for
Rewards are earned though completing surveys emailed to you (£1 for completion of a 10 minute survey and £2 for longer surveys) or writing an article that is selected to be displayed on the website (£50 per article chosen)
They also hold competitions and prize draws throughout the year
Your earnings can be redeemed in the form of either bonusbond vouchers that cover hundreds of high street stores or shopping vouchers to spend on amazon.co.uk
You can find out more about this survey in our special write up here

Good

+ You earn money, not points

+ Good prizes

+ Writing articles is a unique way to make money

+ Students who have recently had a place confirmed at university get £10 towards an Amazon voucher just for signing up

Bad

– After two hours we still hadn’t received an invite to complete any of the surveys

Visit The OpinionPanel Community

MintVine

Facts

You earn points for completing surveys (around 70 points per survey)
Surveys take around 15 mins each
When you have a minimum of 1000 points ($10) you may redeem your points for cash through PayPal or request a gift-card from a participating retailer

Good

+ Easy sign-up only requires name, email, birthday and country

+ You get 200 points just for signing up

+ Guarantees your information will not be sold to 3rd parties

Bad

– Interface isn’t as intuitive as other sites but still easy enough to work out

– Out of the five surveys we tried, we were screened out of four

– Send a LOT of emails

Visit MintVine

Nielsen Online Panel

Facts

Downloaded and installed software monitors and collects data on your internet usage
You are entered into a prize draw each month for keeping the software on your computer
There are £30,000 worth of prizes to be won
Only occasionally are you sent surveys to complete

Good

+ You’re entered into the prize draw just for downloading and keeping the software, so it doesn’t require much effort

+ Easy to remove if you don’t want it anymore

Bad

– Lengthy sign up with a lot of questions for personal details (d.o.b., location, occupation etc.) to information about your household (occupants, their jobs, computers used etc.)

– It might sound like nitpicking but the site is boring, with greys and browns, no images and no logo

– It’s not always clear what you have to do

– It’ll monitor your internet usage, so if you’re the kind of person who likes your browsing to be private then this probably isn’t for you!

Visit Nielson Online Panel

WISAD

Facts

Stands for What I Say and Do Panel run by GFK
digital panel which monitors your internet usage for the purposes of obtaining data for market research
Collects data on the pages you visit on the internet, the number of times you visit them and, when on your smartphone, it also records location
By installing GfK’s Internet Monitor software on your PC/Laptop and the app on your smartphone and browsing the internet for a minimum of 30 days you receive a £10 e-voucher for each device. You will also receive a further £5 loyalty incentive every 3 months if you continue to browse the internet for at least one day a month for these three months
They say they only use data for market research purposes, and the data they collect will never be used to advertise directly to you
At the beginning of each month they will email you a questionnaire that will take only 5 – 10 minutes as well as also sometimes sending follow up questionnaires too
From time to time panel members are invited to take part in a one off study for an additional incentive. An example of this is a recent 10 minute questionnaire which asked about a particular retailer, for which panelists received £2 for completion
Prizes include entries into several different prize draws which offer vouchers worth £2, £10, £20, £50 or £100
Completing the monthly questionnaire sent to you earns you an entry into these draws

Good

+ Good cash incentives and prizes

Bad

– Long sign up questionnaire includes household type/income, energy providers and feelings about technology

– Layout and ease of navigation shockingly bad!

– We had technical issues where, after completing the registration process, we were redirected to a broken page. We then had a problem signing back in because the confirmation of our email address wasn’t registering

Visit Wisad

iPoll

Facts

Reward depends on length of surveys: under 5 minutes = sweepstakes entry, 5 minutes = £0.30-£0.60, 20 minutes = £1-£2
Redemption threshold is £14.86
Rewards include New Look eGift card, PizzaExpress voucher, iTunes gift code, Rixty Online Entertainment Card or the option to donate to a charity such as Keep a Child Alive, Hope for Haiti, Habitat for Humanity and PETA
You can complete profile questions to receive better focused surveys (but there are loads of questions!)

Good

+ Sign up process not too long (about average)

+ Good long list of surveys

+ Attractive easy to navigate website layout

+ We completed a two minute survey about James Bond, which is a bit more interesting than constantly answering questions about energy providers

Bad

– We tried 15 surveys and were screened out of all but one!

– Even after completing at least 40 profile questions we were still screened out of all the surveys we tried or told they were full

Visit iPoll

Ipsos i-Say

Facts

280 to 980 i-Say points gets you a £2, £4 or £7 donation to “Help Nepal” charity
1,380 i-Say points earn you a £10 leisure voucher (redeemable at Beefeater, Bella Italia, Café Rouge, Pizza Hut, London Eye, Hastings, Marriott, Premier Travel Inn, Chessington Park, Legoland, Madame Tussauds, Sea life, London Pass, Friday’s, and many others), a £10 compliments voucher (redeemable at retail stores such as Argos, WHSmith, Topshop, Accor Hotels, Interflora, TGI Friday’s, and many more) or £10 gift vouchers for either John Lewis, Amazon, iTunes or Zalando

Good

+ Short sign-up with very few questions

+ Profile completion takes only a few minutes and includes lots of lifestyle questions

+ Colourful, easy-to-navigate website with clear information

Bad

– We were rejected as ‘not the right demographic’ after completing our first survey. No other surveys were offered.

Visit IPSOS I-SAY

Panel Base

Facts

Have to wait for surveys, notification by email when one becomes available
Rewards range from £0.25 – £10.00 for a successfully completed survey
Once you have reached the redemption threshold of £10 you will be able to withdraw your rewards
Rewards can be withdrawn by having them paid directly into your bank account, as vouchers sent to your address or as charitable donations

Good

+ Easy sign-up with normal personal questions (name, age, location, house details, income, employment)

+ Good rewards with a threshold which isn’t too high

Bad

– Fully completing profile questions would take a few hours

– After spending a few hours on the site we were only offered one survey

Visit Panel Base

Survey Savvy Connect

Facts

American site
Data collection app for PC/mobile, tracks where you go and what you do on the Internet and collects data on what TV shows people watch online, where people shop online, what people search for etc.
Once you have signed-up and installed the app you may also receive additional survey opportunities that can earn you additional rewards
You can sign-up and not install the app but you will receive less survey invites and rewards will take longer to process
Upon completing surveys you are awarded money that is credited to your account within 4-12 weeks
The minimum amount you can cash in with is $1
You receive payments as a cheque in the post
You can take part in unpaid surveys called ‘member portraits’ that help to target paid surveys more likely to be suited to you (and not screen you out)

Good

+ Fairly simple to navigate, quite attractive with good images and bright colours

+ Low cashing in threshold

+ If you’re screened out of a survey you earn entry into a $10 monthly prize draw

Bad

– Receiving a cheque (particularly for a small amount) isn’t always convenient

Visit Survey Savvy Connect

Toluna

Facts

Have your say on brands and major corporations
Share your opinion to win gifts, cash and test products
Surveys offer a mixture of points

Good

+ Some surveys offer quite a good amount of points (anything between 1,000 to 50,000 points)

+ When we were kicked out of a survey we were entered into a sweepstakes

+ Received regular (but not too many) emails with relevant surveys

Bad

– Got kicked out of a survey after spending 10 minutes because the survey had filled out

– Most prizes need 27,000 points, so you have to put in a lot time

Visit Toluna (iPhone, Android, Desktop)

Our picks of the paid surveys

After having reviewed all the surveys we can see that many have pros and cons which will affect you depending on which demographic you fit into.

That being said, these are our top picks based on our experience:

Inbox Pound
Nielsen Online Panel
RewardsTV-UK
Toluna
OpinionPanel Community – if you’re a student

Which one are you going to try? Do you agree with our reviews? Have you had a different experience? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Paid online surveys reviewed appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/paid-online-surveys-reviewed

Make money from using less electricity

Make Money using less electricity. We take a look at a new initiative called the National Grid Demand Flexibility Service, where energy companies will give you money back if you use less electricity during peak times.

How to register

Check with your energy provider and if they’re participating, they’ll let you know about the National Grid’s event days. It’s easy to set up, and means that on a particular day you can try and use less electricity – usually at an agreed time between 4-7pm. You’ll be reminded an hour before to get ready for that peak hour.

Only those with smart meters can apply

The scheme is based around tracking use over specific periods of the day, so you can only take part if you have a smart meter.

You could earn up to £100 over winter

National Grid ESO has previously said it expects to pay suppliers the equivalent of £3 per unit (kWh) saved. However, suppliers are able to choose whether to pass on the full amount. The exact amount will depend on your electricity use and the number of times you’re prompted to cut your usage during winter.

Also be aware, some of these schemes only run until the end of winter (March) so act fast to take advantage.

How to prepare

Once you’ve signed up, go round your home switching off all of the unnecessary plugs and power down everything in your office.

Keep your fridge and WiFi on, but turn off your microwave, for example, and your Alexa. Anything that’s non-essential and usually running in the background.

How much can I earn?

After the hour is up, you’ll be emailed to say that the event has finished. You could earn anything from £1-£2, if you lasted the whole hour that is!

Make money now!

It’s completely free to be part of this scheme if you’re with E.ON Next, British Gas, Octopus Energy and Ovo Energy. Sign up now by clicking on the link that applies to you, and you’ll see what deals each supplier is offering.

E.On Next

To get involved you will need a smart meter that automatically sends half hourly readings, so they can calculate your daily electricity use. If you want to get a smart meter to take part or switch your current smart meter to half-hourly reading then find out how. You’ll also need to give them ‘marketing consent’ so they can contact you about the scheme, which you can do in your E.ON Next customer profile on their website.

If you’re an E.ON Next customer they’ll contact you if you are eligible to take part – so keep an eye on your inbox. Shifting your energy use with the Demand Flexibility Service is a great opportunity to earn rewards for saving energy to lower your bills this winter.

British Gas

Taking part is really easy – all you have to do is try and reduce the electricity you use in Peak Save sessions until the end of March.

Each session will last between 30 minutes and 4 hours. They’ll be in touch beforehand, so you can decide if it’s convenient to take part.
During the session, try to use less electricity than you normally would. The target is 30% less.
They’ll do the calculations through your smart meter and let you know how much you saved.
Save money on your electricity bill – you could earn the equivalent of 6 days free electricity.
As this is a trial, British Gas not able to invite all our customers to take part at the moment. So if you haven’t been sent an invitation, unfortunately you can’t sign up right now.

Octopus Energy

Earn rewards for using less at peak times this winter: cutting down on energy at certain times of day can have a bigger impact on the planet, the energy system, and your wallet.

With Saving Sessions, Octopus reward you for using less power – and give you the chance to win mystery prizes too.

It’s entirely free to get involved HERE, your tariff and energy payments won’t change, and you can opt out any time.

OVO

Customers are rewarded up to £100 for shifting energy usage to (on average) greener times of day.
New trial helps to reduce peak demand on grid over winter.
Typical household uses a fifth of their daily energy between 4pm and 7pm.

Supports OVO’s Plan Zero mission to decarbonise homes and save consumers money

OVO is the UK’s third largest energy supplier, and recently announced the launch of Power Move – an innovative new trial helping customers to cut usage during peak times and save money.

The trial rewards customers up to £100 in total for moving non-essential energy use to times when the grid is (on average) greener and less congested. Find out more HERE.

The post Make money from using less electricity appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/make-money-from-using-less-electricity

Instagram tests Multi-Advertiser ads, cramming four ads into one screen

Instagram is piloting a new ad layout that crams four sponsored posts into one screen.

It’s the platform’s latest take on Multi-Advertiser ads, which groups together related sponsored posts from different businesses and serves them to people who have recently shown an interest in related products or services.

The new layout is being displayed between Reels. Advertisers can disable this feature by opting out in Settings.

Why we care. Bombarding Instagram users with so many ads at once may keep CPMs low. However, it could also potentially annoy users, making it harder for brands to capture consumers’ attention, which will negatively impact CTR and ROI.

Not all impressions are equal. While brands may initially see some success with this new ad format, the novelty will wear off and users will eventually opt to skip the content, said Barry Hott, Growth Marketing Consultant and Advisor:

“Meta’s getting greedy here and trying to squeeze more ad impressions out of their users, particularly on Reels. Great reminder of how all impressions are not equal. I would consider this impression much lower value than a full Reels or Feed ad placement, but it can be used to serve cheap CPMs, more like a right column placement.
“Lower CPMs on an optimized platform with multiple varied placements are not better for you. When you see lower CPMs, don’t celebrate it, question it.
“If your attribution setting includes 1-day view, this placement can be used by the system to get more cheap (non-incremental) 1-day view conversions.
“My bet is this placement will work well for a couple of months before the novelty wears off and users catch on that this interface is solely for them to be served ads and they’ll learn to subconsciously block and skip them.”

The risk of annoying users. Katharine Mckee, digital commerce consultant, raised her concerns over the ad product interrupting the user experience:

“I would assume that some of this is driven by customer interest. The example may be throwing it off, but all of those [ads in the example] are cheesy/spammy and highly likely to be skipped.
“It may make sense from a UX perspective to put the seemingly identical things together in one skippable bomb rather than irritating users.
“Put all the skippable rubbish into one easy-to-ignore slot. I cannot wait to see the ugly reel!”

Get the daily newsletter search marketers rely on.

See terms.

What Instagram is saying. Instagram announced its multi-advertiser format via an announcement in its Help Center:

“Multi-advertiser ads help people discover and compare products from multiple businesses. This ad unit, available for selected placements on Facebook and Instagram, gives advertisers the opportunity to be discovered by people who have recently shown an interest in related products or businesses.”
“In the multi-advertiser ad unit, personalized ads from different businesses are shown in a carousel format beneath an ad that a shopper has recently engaged with. An ad for a wedding dress might appear beside another brand’s ad for a wedding cake, for example.”
“The advertiser decides where the action button within their multi-advertiser ad takes people. At the end of the carousel, an action button links to a feed of ads, where shoppers can explore more related products or services (currently only available on Instagram).”
“This feature is being gradually introduced and may not be available to you yet.”

The post Instagram tests Multi-Advertiser ads, cramming four ads into one screen appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/instagram-multi-advertiser-ads-four-reels-430837

The new Bing has failed to take any market share from Google after six months

It’s been just over six months since the new AI-powered Bing with Bing Chat launched – but its overall search engine market share remains virtually unchanged globally and in the U.S.

Why we care. When the new Bing launched, it felt like the dawn of an exciting new era in search. Microsoft seemed to have a legitimate chance to erode some of Google’s dominance and become a truly worthy competitor to Google, thanks to its new conversational and generative AI take on search. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened.

By the numbers. Bing’s U.S. search market share was 6.47% in July, per web analytics service StatCounter.

In February, when new Bing launched, it’s market share was 6.35%. Bing’s market share peaked at 6.61% in March.
But Bing’s U.S. market share was typically over 7% in 2022, with a high of 7.82% in November.

Bing’s global search market share was 2.99% in July, per StatCounter.

The highest Bing’s global search market share has been this year was in January, at 3.03%, a month before new Bing was announced. In 2022, Bing was consistently over 3%.

Microsoft disputes these numbers. A WSJ article today (paywalled, so I’m not linking to it) noted that:

“[Microsoft] disputed outside data, saying third-party data companies aren’t measuring all the people who are going directly to Bing’s chat page.”

StatCounter said its data takes traffic to and from Bing’s chat into account. Here’s what digital intelligence platform SimilarWeb told me:

“It’s possible that we’re missing some of the Bing Chat interactions that use an Edge sidebar / extension, but I don’t know how significant that is in the grand scheme of things.”

Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s corporate VP and consumer CMO, told WSJ the company’s internal data shows Bing taking market share from Google, but failed to provide any figures.

“We’ve made more progress in the last six months than we have in the previous decade or two combined. We’re delighted with our start,” Mehdi said.

This claim seems a bit odd, considering around this time 10 years ago, Bing’s search market share was 17.9%, per comScore.

How Microsoft celebrates six months. Microsoft’s Aug. 7 blog post highlighting the number of chats (1 billion) and images created (750 million), as well as nine quarters of growth for Edge. And it earned them a surprising amount of PR thanks to many publications covering the launchiversary (Search Engine Land was not among those, because there was nothing new to report to you).

More data. I also checked with SimilarWeb and comScore for their latest data on Bing’s lack of growth. Here’s what a SimilarWeb spokesperson told me:

“We can see a little bit of growth for Bing, but it’s incremental. According to our official rankings for the search engine category, they were the #2 search engine with a little over 2% traffic share in the U.S. as of July, but still at about 1% worldwide.”

Meanwhile, Bing saw a 6% decline in unique visitors and total visits from February to July, according to data from analytics firm comScore. Bing’s unique visitors and total visits also declined 2% year on year in July.

Dig deeper. Here’s some of our previous coverage of the AI search engine arms race that never actually became a race:

The post The new Bing has failed to take any market share from Google after six months appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/new-bing-google-market-share-six-months-430840

Everyone Gets One. These 4 Founders Got It Right Twice (At Least)

Home Business Magazine Online

In music, one-hit wonders light up the record charts for a few weeks and then fall off the map forever. Some leave the business altogether, while others manage to have long, unglamorous careers as working musicians.

Things are murkier in the startup world, where one-exit wonders are super common. These folks found or get in on the ground floor of early-stage companies destined for big things. They scale those companies into enterprises worth tens or hundreds of millions, maybe billions. Eventually, they cash out via a private acquisition, IPO, or internal share sale.

Often, that exit leaves them with quite a bit of cash on hand. Some head right back into the trenches, betting that lightning strikes twice and they’ll multiply their already-considerable riches. Many advise younger founders. Most do early-stage investing as well.

Whatever they do, it’s surprisingly rare for these successful founders to find themselves in the driver’s seat of another rocket-ship startup. But some do.

Are they lucky, good, or both? Let’s take a look at four founders who made winning bets on at least two big tech trends and see what they have in common.

1. Jeff Bezos

Not long after EarthLink made the internet accessible and affordable for any American with a phone line, Jeff Bezos saw the opportunity that would make him (at one point) the world’s richest person. Amazon.com began humbly enough, as an online bookseller, but it quickly grew into the Western world’s biggest retailer.

As Amazon scaled, Bezos saw another opportunity, this time harnessing the excess processing power of Amazon’s massive server farms. Amazon Web Services, or AWS, was born; the brand is now Amazon’s biggest revenue engine.

Bezos wasn’t done. After stepping back from Amazon, he poured his soul into the emerging commercial spaceflight industry. His Blue Origin isn’t quite as well known as its chief rival, Elon Musk’s SpaceX, it’s built to last. Bezos was confident enough in its proprietary takeoff system to claim a seat on its first commercial flight to near-space.

2. Sky Dayton

Back in the early 1990s, Sky Dayton’s first attempt to access the nascent internet turned into an multiday ordeal. It was enough to convince him to launch a company to make it easy for anyone to get online.

That company became EarthLink, an independent dial-up provider that became one of the most successful tech companies of the pre-dotcom era (and a huge tailwind for the early internet economy).

After stepping back from day-to-day management of EarthLink, Dayton made another bet on the future of the internet. This time, it was WiFi; his Boingo became the undisputed leader in public WiFi service during the early 2000s.

Dayton went for a three-peat with a pre-iPhone smartphone play, called Helios. Like Blackberry and Palm, Helios missed the smartphone boom by this much, but it undeniably laid the groundwork for pocket-sized supercomputing.

3. Elon Musk

Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have more in common than sharing the “richest person in the world” title at different times. They both made their first fortune off Web 1.0, albeit in different parts of the value chain. In Musk’s case, his breakthrough was digital payments; PayPal, which he helped build from the ground up, remains a leader in the space.

Musk turned his eye to an even grander goal toward the end of the 2000s: electrifying personal transportation. It was a long and winding road, but Tesla is now the world’s most valuable automaker. You probably know someone who drives one, if you don’t yourself.

Like Bezos, Musk was also a commercial spaceflight pioneer. His SpaceX now competes for U.S. government contracts with the likes of Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and General Dynamics, and it’s a major player in private satellite launches too. More than any other company, it’s responsible for bending the spaceflight cost curve down to the point where near-Earth colonization looks plausible.

4. Marc Andreessen

If you “surfed the Web” in its early days, you may also have Marc Andreessen to thank. Convinced that the internet was the future of information-sharing, Andreessen helped develop and launch Netscape, the first commercially successful Web browser. Parent company Mosaic’s 1995 IPO made him a multimillionaire before his 25th birthday.

Rather than fade into anonymity as a philanthropist, as many of his Web 1.0 compatriots did, Andreessen retooled as one of Silicon Valley’s most prolific investors. In 2009, Andreessen took what many fellow venture capitalists believed was a foolish bet on Skype, a low-cost voice-over-internet platform that hadn’t yet gained much traction in North America. He got the last laugh just two years later, when Microsoft purchased Skype for nearly four times what Andreessen paid for it. Today, Skype is recognized as the digital communications forerunner that spawned imitators like WhatsApp and Signal.

Lucky…or Good?

In moments of candor, most successful entrepreneurs admit that they wouldn’t be where they are without a fair bit of luck.

“Luck” might mean being born into family money, or meeting the right people in college, or simply being an early employee at a startup that hit the jackpot. Elon Musk grudgingly acknowledges that family wealth gave him an early edge; Mark Zuckerberg met Facebook’s earliest investors and key employees at Harvard.

But no one in their right mind argues that Musk and Zuckerberg aren’t also great at building companies. They’ve both proven their worth several times over. So while it might be better to be lucky than good, clearly it’s best to be both.

The post Everyone Gets One. These 4 Founders Got It Right *Twice* (At Least) appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/businesses/success-stories-businesses/everyone-gets-one-4-founders-got-right-twice/

Oil Price and Business Impact Over the Years

Home Business Magazine Online

When there is a spike in oil prices, home businesses and small businesses can be affected in several ways: increased Operating Costs: Higher oil prices typically lead to increased costs for transportation, heating, and electricity. Small businesses that rely on transporting goods or providing services may face higher fuel costs, which can impact their profitability. Additionally, businesses operating from home that rely on electricity for production or services may experience increased energy costs.

Rising Input Costs: Many small businesses rely on oil-derived products, such as plastics, chemicals, or packaging materials. When the price of oil rises, the cost of these inputs also tends to increase. This can lead to higher production costs and reduced profit margins for small businesses.

Home businesses and small businesses often have limited resources and flexibility to absorb sudden changes in costs. However, some businesses may be able to adapt and adjust their operations to mitigate the effects of oil price spikes. For example, businesses may explore alternative energy sources, optimize transportation logistics, or innovate to reduce their reliance on oil-based inputs.

It is important to note that the impact of oil price spikes on home businesses and small businesses can vary depending on the industry, location, and specific circumstances of each business. Additionally, the duration and severity of the oil price spike will also play a significant role in determining the overall impact on businesses.

The following is a general overview of crude oil prices over the past few years

2017: In 2017, crude oil prices began the year relatively low, with Brent crude oil averaging around $54 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil averaging around $50 per barrel. Prices gradually increased throughout the year due to a combination of factors, including OPEC-led production cuts and improving global demand. By the end of the year, Brent crude oil price reached an average of around $55 per barrel, while WTI crude oil averaged around $51 per barrel.
2018: Crude oil prices saw significant volatility in 2018. The year started with strong upward momentum, with Brent crude oil reaching around $70 per barrel and WTI crude oil approaching $65 per barrel by May. However, prices started to decline in the latter half of the year amid concerns of oversupply and slowing global economic growth. By the end of the year, Brent crude oil averaged around $71 per barrel, while WTI crude oil averaged around $65 per barrel.
2019: Crude oil prices faced several uncertainties in 2019, including geopolitical tensions and concerns about global economic growth. Prices experienced volatility throughout the year, with Brent crude oil ranging from around $50 to $75 per barrel, and WTI crude oil ranging from around $45 to $65 per barrel. By the end of 2019, Brent crude oil averaged around $64 per barrel, while WTI crude oil averaged around $57 per barrel.
2020: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on crude oil prices in 2020. As countries implemented lockdowns and travel restrictions to contain the spread of the virus, global oil demand plummeted. This led to a drastic drop in crude oil prices, with Brent crude oil falling to historic lows of below $20 per barrel in April 2020, while WTI crude oil even briefly traded in negative territory. Prices gradually recovered over the year as economies reopened and demand picked up but remained lower compared to previous years. By the end of 2020, Brent crude oil averaged around $42 per barrel, while WTI crude oil averaged around $39 per barrel.
2021: Crude oil prices in 2021 have seen a rebound from the lows of 2020. Prices have been influenced by factors such as COVID-19 vaccine distribution, OPEC+ production agreements, and broader economic recovery. As of August 2021, Brent crude oil has averaged around $66 per barrel, while WTI crude oil has averaged around $62 per barrel.

It’s important to note that crude oil prices can be influenced by various factors, including global supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical events, and market sentiment. Prices will continue to fluctuate based on these factors in the coming years.

Political landscape

Political unrest can have a significant impact on crude oil prices. Here are a few ways in which political unrest can affect oil prices:

Supply Disruptions: Political unrest in oil-producing regions can disrupt oil production and supply chains. Protests, civil conflict, or political instability can lead to the shutdown or reduced output of oil wells, refineries, pipelines, or ports. Any disruption in supply can constrain the global oil market and push prices higher.
Geopolitical Tensions: Political conflicts and tensions between countries can also affect oil prices. For example, if there is a threat of military action or trade sanctions targeting major oil-producing nations, it can create uncertainty and fear of supply disruptions, leading to increased oil prices.
Change in Government Policies: Political unrest can result in changes in government policies related to oil production, exports, or energy sector regulations. These policy shifts can impact the production capacity, investment climate, or trading relationships of oil-producing countries. Uncertainty around such policy changes can influence oil prices.
Global Sentiment and Risk Appetite: Political unrest, especially if it occurs in major oil-producing or oil-consuming regions, can create market sentiment and risk aversion. Investors might perceive higher geopolitical risks, leading to increased oil prices as a safe-haven asset. Similarly, concerns about the stability of oil supply can influence market sentiment, leading to higher oil prices.

Examples of how political unrest has impacted oil prices include the Arab Spring in 2011, which resulted in supply disruptions from oil-producing countries like Libya, Egypt, and Syria, leading to increased oil prices. In more recent years, the tension between the United States and Iran, conflicts in Iraq and Nigeria, or political crises in Venezuela have all had impacts on oil prices.

It’s important to note that political unrest is just one among many factors that can influence oil prices. The overall supply-demand dynamics, economic conditions, and other market forces also play a significant role. Moreover, the duration and severity of political unrest can vary, leading to varying impacts on oil prices

The post Oil Price and Business Impact Over the Years appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/money/financial-trading/oil-price-business-impact-over-the-years/

Navigating the Ever-Changing Landscape of SEO Algorithms and Updates

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As the digital landscape continues to evolve, so does the world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO algorithms and updates are part of the fluid nature of the internet, ever-changing and ceaselessly morphing to improve user experiences and ensure high-quality and relevant content. For businesses and digital marketers, understanding and adapting to these changes is not an option, it’s a necessity. Neglecting to do so may lead to reduced visibility, decreased web traffic, and subsequently, a decline in conversions. However, seeing through the dense fog of SEO updates can be a challenge. Let’s break down how to navigate this ever-changing landscape.

Understanding SEO Algorithms and Updates

At their core, SEO algorithms are sets of rules that search engines use to determine the rankings of websites in search results. Google, the most common search engine, uses a complex algorithm, which considers over 200 factors to rank websites. A small change to these algorithms could mean a noteworthy modification in your site’s SERP (Search Engine Results Page) ranking. Google and other search engines frequently update their algorithms to improve search accuracy, eliminate spam, and overall enhance the user experience. Some updates are minor tweaks that go mostly unnoticed, while others can have major effects on search rankings. That’s why staying updated on these changes is crucial for any SEO strategy.

Navigating SEO Algorithm Changes

Here are some steps you can take when navigating SEO algorithm changes.

1. Keep Informed

When it comes to staying on top of SEO updates, the first and arguably most critical step is to actively keep informed. This can be achieved by regularly visiting key news websites related to search engine optimization, subscribing to industry newsletters, and following key influencers in the field. By taking these measures, you will be able to stay abreast of new developments and emerging trends in the SEO world. Additionally, it is important to note that search engines are constantly evolving so it is essential to always remain vigilant in order to properly react quickly and appropriately when necessary. Staying informed on the latest updates will allow you to make sure that your website is optimized for the current landscape of SEO practices. Ultimately, keeping up with changes in SEO will enable you to develop more effective strategies for increasing your web traffic and search engine rankings.

2. Avoid Over-Optimization

When attempting to optimize a website for Google updates, it is important to maintain balance in order to avoid the pitfalls of over-optimization. Although optimizing certain features of your website can help boost your rankings, trying to do too much at once can be counter-productive. The key is to develop strong SEO foundations by focusing on quality content and keywords relevant to your business, as well as building reputable backlinks. This approach will yield long-term benefits that are more sustainable than short-term superficial fixes that can ultimately lead to negative effects such as being penalized or demoted in search engine results. All in all, when it comes to SEO and optimizing your website for Google updates, it pays to be patient and prudent: focus on creating solid foundations and lay the groundwork for long-term success rather than engaging in risky practices that could jeopardize the overall health and visibility of your website.

3. Adapt Your SEO Strategy

It is essential to regularly review and adapt your SEO strategies in order to stay competitive in the online marketplace. As changes and updates occur in the world of search engine optimization, you need to ensure that your website is up to date with those changes. For example, if Google releases an update placing increased emphasis on mobile responsiveness, you must make sure your website is mobile-optimized so as not to be left behind. This includes ensuring that all text, images, links, and other elements are user-friendly when accessed via a mobile device. Furthermore, take time to evaluate any keyword changes or adjustments to local search parameters that might be applicable to your business and adjust your content accordingly. By keeping abreast of the latest SEO developments and adapting your strategies accordingly, you will remain competitive in the digital landscape for years to come.

4. Analyze Traffic Patterns

When analyzing website traffic patterns, it is important to closely monitor any sudden dips or increases as this could indicate a recent SEO update or a shift in the relevance or quality of your content. SEO, or search engine optimization, is an important tool for establishing visibility in search engine results and thus increasing website traffic. Regularly making adjustments to optimize the website’s content structure can be beneficial in maintaining high levels of traffic. Additionally, changes to content such as formatting, length, topics, etc may affect traffic levels; staying faithful to best practice tips when it comes to crafting quality content will help ensure consistency in terms of website hits. By monitoring website traffic carefully, you can quickly identify any changes and take appropriate action accordingly.

5. Embrace the User Experience

When considering any algorithmic updates, it is essential to keep in mind that their primary purpose is to optimize the user experience. Businesses should, therefore, focus on this aspect when making changes, aiming to improve website performance with fast page load times as well as a simple and intuitive layout. Further improvements can be made by ensuring that all content is of high quality and relevance to the users’ needs. Adopting this approach will enable businesses to stay ahead of the curve in terms of algorithm adjustments and enhance their prospects for success in the long run. Ultimately, having an eye for user experience will help ensure that any updates are made with both efficiency and effectiveness in mind.

6. Audit Regularly

Auditing your website on a regular basis is an important step in ensuring online success. By checking key metrics such as keyword rankings, backlink quality, content relevance, and website speed before and after updates, one can ensure that their site is always optimized for peak performance. Keeping track of your website’s progress over time can provide valuable insights into areas that require improvement and help protect against any issues arising from new updates. Regular audits can also help identify opportunities for further growth, such as boosting keyword rankings or streamlining page load times to offer a better user experience. It is important to keep in mind that the landscape of web optimization is always changing; hence periodic reviews are essential to staying ahead of the competition and achieving long-term success.

7. Consider Google E-A-T Guidelines

Google’s E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) guidelines are an important part of any SEO strategy. With the ultimate goal of providing quality search results, Google considers these elements when indexing websites. The website must have content that is accurate, well-informed, and written by professionals in the field. It must also be authoritative in its subject area by having an established presence through backlinks from established and reputable sources. Additionally, the website must demonstrate trustworthiness through safety protocols such as HTTPS encryption, positive user reviews, and awards or recognition from relevant organizations. All of these factors together contribute to a website’s ranking on Google’s search engine results page (SERP). By adhering to E-A-T guidelines during site optimization efforts, businesses can ensure that their content will reach the right target audience and increase their chances of capturing higher SERP positions.

Robust SEO is no longer just about embedding keywords. The playing field is broader now, and the rules are less clear but more rewarding. By mastering these dynamics, businesses stand not only to benefit from greater online exposure but also to create genuine value for their audience. Remember, SEO is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. The key is to remain adaptable and steadily progress in this ever-changing landscape to achieve long-term success. Incorporating an SEO service white label into your offerings can also prove to be an effective strategy, allowing businesses to offer comprehensive and professionally managed SEO services without the burden of mastering every detail of this ever-changing landscape. To enhance your business’s digital footprint, consider seeking assistance from a reputable SEO service white label provider, who can effectively navigate you through this dynamic landscape, while adapting to the changing algorithms and updates.

The post Navigating the Ever-Changing Landscape of SEO Algorithms and Updates appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/businesses/seo/navigating-ever-changing-landscape-seo-algorithms-updates/

The Art of Decision-Making: Why Every Business Needs a Consultant

Home Business Magazine Online

In the world of business, every decision counts. From hiring the right talent to choosing which market to expand into, the choices a company makes can determine its success or failure. Often, the weight of these decisions can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re steering the ship alone. This is where the invaluable expertise of a business consultant comes into play.

In this article, we’ll explore why every business, regardless of its size or industry, can benefit from hiring a consultant.

1. Access to External Expertise and Insights

When you’re too close to a problem or an opportunity, it can be difficult to see things from a fresh perspective. Enter the business consultant. Firms like Origin Business Consultants pride themselves on bringing an external viewpoint and specialized knowledge to the table.

With extensive experience across multiple industries and challenges, consultants can identify potential pitfalls, uncover hidden opportunities, and offer solutions that might not have been evident from an internal viewpoint.

2. Saving Time and Resources

Time is money in the business world. Rather than spending weeks or even months researching or trying to figure out a solution, a consultant can offer guidance swiftly. They can fast-track solutions, having dealt with similar challenges before. With their assistance, businesses can direct their resources more efficiently, ensuring that they are investing in the right places.

3. Encouraging Unbiased Decision Making

Bias, whether intentional or not, can sometimes cloud judgment. This is especially true when decisions are tied to emotions or past experiences. A business consultant provides an unbiased, third-party perspective. They are not influenced by company politics, past decisions, or personal relationships. This ensures that the decisions taken are in the best interest of the company, not individual stakeholders.

4. Skill Gaps Are Bridged

No matter how talented your team is, there will always be areas where the skillset isn’t as strong. A consultant can bridge these gaps.

Whether you need assistance with market research, financial modeling, or crafting a marketing strategy, a consultant can provide expertise that might not be present internally. This ensures that decisions are made with the best possible information and expertise.

5. Flexibility and Scalability

Hiring a full-time employee can be a lengthy and expensive process, especially if the need is temporary. Consultants offer flexibility. Businesses can engage them for a specific project or time frame, ensuring that you’re only paying for the expertise when you need it.

This can be especially helpful for smaller businesses that might not have the resources to hire full-time experts for every department.

6. Facilitating Change Management

Change is inevitable in business. Whether it’s adapting to new technologies, regulations, or market shifts, companies need to evolve to stay relevant. However, implementing change can be challenging, especially when there’s resistance from within.

Consultants can act as change agents, facilitating the transition by offering strategies, training, and support. Their outsider perspective can also help in pointing out areas of resistance that might not be visible to internal stakeholders.

7. Providing Training and Development

Consultants don’t just offer advice; they can also play a crucial role in upskilling your team. Many consultants offer training sessions, workshops, and seminars to impart their knowledge. This not only solves the immediate challenges but ensures that your team is better equipped to handle similar issues in the future, making your business more self-reliant and informed.

8. Risk Management

Business is fraught with risks. Whether it’s financial, operational, or market-related, risks can severely impact a company’s bottom line. Consultants, with their wide-ranging experience, can identify potential risks that might not be immediately evident. They can then help in strategizing on how to mitigate these risks, ensuring that your business is better prepared for any eventualities.

9. Enhancing Creativity and Innovation

While it might sound counterintuitive, bringing in an external consultant can spur innovation. They come with a wealth of experiences from other industries or businesses which can be applied in new and creative ways. Their fresh perspective can lead to innovative solutions that might not have been considered otherwise.

Conclusion

In today’s complex business landscape, the right decision can propel a company to new heights, while a misstep can be costly. The art of decision-making is not just about choosing between two options but navigating through a myriad of possibilities, risks, and opportunities.

While some might view consultants as an unnecessary expenditure, the value they bring in terms of expertise, perspective, and solutions is unparalleled. In essence, hiring a consultant is not an expense but an investment — an investment in informed decisions, future-proof strategies, and the overall success of a business.

The post The Art of Decision-Making: Why Every Business Needs a Consultant appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/businesses/consulting/art-decision-making-why-every-business-needs-consultant/

Inflation falls to 6.8%

Inflation falls to 6.8%

New figures show that the inflation rate fell by 1.1% in the year to July, landing at 6.8%. This is expected to be, in part, due to lower energy costs – however prices of many commodities, specifically food, remain high.

Down from 7.9% in June, inflation starting to cool off will bring hope to many, however it is likely to take a while for prices to fall. Due to the cost of restaurants and hotel stays remaining high, as well as goods such as alcohol, it’s expected that there could be a further increase in interest rates.

6.8% is far lower than it was last October, when it hit a staggering 11.1% at its peak – but this is still over three times more than the target base rate of 2%, set by the Bank of England.

It’s also to remember that although inflation is falling, it doesn’t necessarily mean pr-ices will start to fall immediately. Inflation means prices are still rising, just at a slower rate. However, some prices are starting to go down as the effects of falling inflation slowly trickle down to the consumer, with basics such as milk and eggs slowly starting to drop.

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

“Whilst the latest headline inflation numbers have finally followed the Bank of England’s repeatedly re-written script, there will be little cause for celebration in the hallowed halls of Threadneedle Street.

“The introduction of the new energy price cap, which reflects falling gas and electricity prices, was always going to impact July’s numbers and has been primarily responsible for the significant fall in the headline rate.

“Households will also be relieved to see the rate at which food prices are rising has continued to slow, with some staples on supermarket shelves actually costing less than they did earlier in the year.

“The price of stuff is falling, and the latest producer prices suggest that trend will only accelerate as we head towards the back end of the year.

“And with wage growth of 7.8% people should start to feel the benefit in their pockets as the worst of the cost-of-living crisis seems to be drawing to a close.

“But this is a decidedly cup half full moment. Firstly, inflation is still significantly above that two percent target and even if it is cooling off faster than a sun burnt Brit diving into a hotel pool, prices are not falling, they’re just not rising as fast as they have been.

“Then there are the secondary effects that have indeed become embedded in the UK economy.

“Wage increases and price pressures have forced up service costs and that’s weaving its own nasty spell on core inflation.

“And it’s the core figure that will keep pressure on the Bank of England to keep raising interest rates until the sticky tendrils have been eradicated like weeds denied water.

“Today’s figure does buy the government a bit of breathing space and it seems Rishi Sunak’s five percent target is now achievable.

“But there remains a question for many families facing the prospect of spiralling mortgage costs – is the new pain worse than that which is being cured?”

The post Inflation falls to 6.8% appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/inflation-falls-to-6-8

Google Ads trials enhanced customer service for small businesses

Google Ads will offer enhanced customer service for small businesses as part of a new paid pilot.

A select number of agencies and advertisers have been invited to test the new program, which offers one-on-one support tailored to specific customer needs.

Why we care. Small business owners using the program can get specialized advice faster by using this premium service, which has historically only been accessible to Google Ads’ biggest clients.

What’s next? Google will collect feedback from participants. In time, Google hopes to roll the service out to more small- and medium-sized businesses. A Google spokesperson said:

“These changes are part of a long-term strategy that we’ll be building on over time, testing, and learning as we go.”

Why now? Google launched the pilot in response to a “common complaint” from small businesses that they more specialized advice from the search engine’s experts, along with ideas for how they can improve their ads campaigns and optimize their budgets – a level of service not provided by Google’s automated self-service system.

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

“The paid pilot is intentionally small in scope so we can take feedback and iterate based on what works best for our customers.”
“As part of this evolution, we’ve made significant upgrades to the Help Center to help customers resolve issues on their own, more easily. This includes multimedia additions, such as videos and GIFs, across articles related to how to edit your campaign settings, edit your bids, and resolve data inconsistencies in Google Ads accounts. We will continue to invest in this area.”
“Agencies working with customers included in this pilot will also be able to schedule specialized paid support consultations tailored to their clients’ specific needs.”

The post Google Ads trials enhanced customer service for small businesses appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-ads-enhanced-customer-service-small-business-430773