Creating the Perfect TikTok Video

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Creating the perfect TikTok video should be easy, shouldn’t it? People have gone viral from their beds. No make up, no ring light, no editing, nothing. TikTok is a place that embraces the “authentic” content, i.e., rough, straightforward, unpolished, but that isn’t your only option.

That can be a perfect TikTok video, and it might even be your calling card when it comes to your content style, but there is a lot more that you can do with your TikTok content. There are a lot of options that will help you to stand out in the TikTok content market. If you’re looking to give your TikTok content a little something more, take a look at our guide to creating the perfect TikTok for some tips.

How to start

How you start all depends on the purpose of the TikTok video. What the small influencer trying to up their subscriber count is doing is going to be different from the brand looking to market their company. Even within that, the person trying to be funny is going to be different from the glamourous lifestyle blogger.

So, think about who you want to be and who you want to appeal to and then plan accordingly. Is this a one-man team? Do you want to get your costume on and make a full production of it? Or are you happy letting your post-production editing do the heavy lifting of making your point?

As for the practical, there are a few different ways you can go about making your video. You can capture straight from the TikTok app by simply pointing your camera and pressing the big button at the bottom. There are filters to choose from and a simple editing process built into the app. Additionally, you can shoot your film straight from your camera phone and edit it in whatever app you prefer and then upload it to TikTok.

Our one tip would be to get a tripod at the very least. A ring light will do wonders for your skin but if your camera is shaky, every commenter is going to bring it up.

What to add

Once you have your raw footage, you can add whatever you like to it. Maybe you want to play with the graphics or add a fun filter. Maybe you want your TikTok video to be taken seriously as a source of information so you can add screenshots and explanatory captions, etc.

Part of the editing process is doing all the little things that have made TikTok the more accessible place it is proud to be, like closed captions, links, hashtags, etc. Some of these things can be automated for you, but if you’re taking TikTok seriously, you should double check the subtitles or add them yourself. Closed captions often get things wrong so you sound like you’re going really in depth about a potato for example. You will confuse people who rely on them, defeating the purpose.

Then again you might also give someone a laugh. You can find out how to add captions on TikTok here.

Dos and don’ts

  • Do edit out the Millennial Pause. Simply because you don’t want to hear about it in the commons. Apparently, it’s not cool to make sure the camera’s recording before you start speaking.
  • Don’t forget that TikTok is all about entertainment first. You can be educational, serious, or marketing, as long as you are entertaining in some way to the viewer, you will be watched.
  • Do get straight to the point. Even skits that meander to the punchline of their jokes are failing on TikTok. On the other hand, crowd work from professional standups is the thing that is going viral on TikTok. That’s because TikTok users have no time to waste. Get to the point and get there fast.
  • Don’t forget that the ears are more sensitive than the eyes, which means that what your user is hearing is more important than what they’re seeing. Avoid the sarcastic, “I can’t quite hear the music over the speech” comments by being aware of some basic sound mixing.
  • Do give credit to anyone who helped make your TikTok. That includes anyone whose TikTok you’re jumping off from. If you were inspired, want to elaborate on a point, or are responding, credit the creator.

Tips from the pros

If we’re honest, content on TikTok is so varied that the best piece of advice that the pros can give is to be yourself. The one thing all the biggest TikTokers have in common is a personality that shines through their editing, whether they’re in bed calling out class issues or putting on skits pretending to be a family of people with tiny hands.

The biggest tip is to simply be brave. If you have an idea, film it, and see where it takes you.

The post Creating the Perfect TikTok Video appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/marketing/social-media-marketing/creating-perfect-tiktok-video/

Social Learning Platforms Are the Future of Developing Talent

Home Business Magazine Online

Social learning platforms use social learning technology to drive employee engagement further.

By Nellie Wartoft, Founder & CEO — Tigerhall

Social learning platforms that allow employees to leverage the power of group learning as they grow professionally are the future of enterprise learning. These tools allow employees to develop relevant learning in real-time, decentralize knowledge by making it available to everyone, and make learning more engaging by utilizing the technology employees have come to familiarize themselves with.

A recent survey from Brandon Hall Group reveals that 73% of companies expect to increase their focus on social learning, and over 60% hope employees will interact with learning resources daily.

Why social learning platforms are the future of continued education

I was drawn to social learning out of personal frustration. In high school — and even into college — I was the student who never understood why we were studying the Pythagorean theorem or memorizing the periodic table instead of learning real-world skills that businesses need now.

Like almost everyone entering the workforce, I found I was still unprepared for everyday workplace challenges. But when I was able to meet with company executives for more intimate one-on-one meetings in coffee shops, I learned more from them than I did in my formal education. That’s when I started thinking about the concept of social learning.

Social learning platforms offer this new future of continued education for three reasons, beginning with the development of relevant learning. It takes universities years to incorporate formal curricula, and corporate education takes six-to-twelve months to turn out online modules.

In today’s world, you can’t afford to be that slow. You need relevant learning content that addresses what’s happening now. I call this the Happening-Capture-Deliver ratio — the time between when something happens and when content captures that and delivers it to the right audience. With social learning, that ratio is instant because people share information in real-time.

Another reason why social learning platforms are the future of continued education is their ability to decentralize knowledge. With our world moving faster and faster, we cannot allow knowledge to remain the property of central institutions like universities. Through social learning, we decentralize information by learning from each other.

In addition, social learning platforms make knowledge available to everyone. Unfortunately, most university degrees are only available to the people who can afford them or are willing to take on a lifetime of debt. According to data insights on debt incurred from seeking higher education, even two decades after borrowing money to attend college, the average graduate still owes around $20,000. This should not be the norm.

Finally, social learning utilizes advances at the forefront of consumer technology. Many companies offer learning on woefully outdated customer relationship management (CRM) platforms employing 20 or 30-year-old technology.

Recent statistics reveal that Americans spend, on average, 5.4 hours on their phones each day. People aren’t assigned to spend time on social media or even offered incentives; they do it because it offers them a chance to connect with others and engage with the world around them.

Social learning platforms incorporate the elements people love about consumer technology — such as personalization, discussion forums, video-sharing, gamification, and AI recommendation engines — and use them to engage employees in enterprise learning.

Social learning platforms leverage human connection to keep employees engaged

Social media platforms are the future of learning because they get employees excited about sharing their expertise and learning with their colleagues. When Cisco adopted social learning, for example, the company reported 98% employee adoption after one year, and its employees generated 80% of the platform’s content through social interaction.

Social learning platforms engage employees with the interactive tools so popular on social media. Discussions, comments, and polls offer people a voice, while feeds and notifications keep them involved in real-time conversations. These platforms provide spaces where employees connect, share knowledge, and become engaged in their work. They answer questions from coworkers who need help and collaborate with colleagues with similar career goals. The more people who engage on the platform, the more valuable the platform becomes.

Social learning platforms deliver relevant learning

Social learning platforms empower organizations to make learning relevant. For example, leadership is able to better curate the content their employees learn by choosing specific modules or lessons that address the challenges they are facing at the moment. They may also create their own instruction that is relevant to their specific organization.

Additionally, social learning focuses on the needs of individual learners by engaging employees with content, tools, and resources based on the goals they list in their profiles. Everyone encounters a highly personal learning path because the platforms’ AI algorithms recommend learning opportunities specific to each user’s profile and past interaction with the content.

Relevant social learning proves remarkably effective. For example, when Comcast employed social learning on guided sales training, their retail specialists achieved a 40% increase in productivity and a 60% increase in sales.

Social learning platforms keep learning convenient

Today’s employees are extremely busy, but the “bite-sized” content on social learning platforms is powerful, concise, and easy to digest. This format allows employees to tackle training at their own pace.

Social learning platforms are also mobile-friendly and easy to use on any device. Instead of being restricted to learning at their desks, employees can access information anytime and anywhere.

Social learning platforms offer the world an entirely different way to learn and approach the process of credentialing. These platforms provide higher engagement with content, and real-time application of workplace knowledge compared to the learning management systems businesses have used for the past 50 years, leading to increased adoption by employees as a result. All we have to do is shift the ways we’ve historically approached learning to better reflect how we naturally consume content today.

The post Social Learning Platforms Are the Future of Developing Talent appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/management/employees/social-learning-platforms-future-developing-talent/

Google fixing bug that shows 5 ads on top of SERPs

An issue is causing too many ads to show at the top of Google’s search results.

The issue. The search engine is showing five sponsored posts at the top of SERPs, when there should only be four, for some queries. For example:

Advertising

SERPs error. Marketers raised the ads display issue on X (the platform previously known as Twitter), noting that Google has historically said that it only displays four ads at the top of search results pages.

Is Google showing five ads now? No.

Google’s policy hasn’t changed. Something is wrong on Google’s end, according to Ginny Marvin, ads product liaison at Google.

Why we care. We wondered whether Google had increased the number of ads at the top of SERPs, from four to five, on purpose. But now we know that isn’t the case. Rather, it is just the latest stumble for the Google Ads platform.

What has Google said? Marvin said the error is being addressed, via X:

  • “Thanks for bringing it to my attention. This is is not working as intended and we’re working to address it.”

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Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-fixing-ad-error-serps-430122

Meta to get consent before collecting data for targeted advertising in Europe

Meta has offered to get consent from all users in Europe before collecting their data for targeted advertising purposes.

The company put forward the proposal in a bid to try and end a year-long dispute with the European Union over the legality of its targeted ad operations.

Although the changes could have a catastrophic impact on the effectiveness of its targeted ads, Meta has assured that marketers will still be able to promote personalised ad campaigns on the platform in Europe regardless.

Why we care. If a large number of people in Europe refuse to give permission for their data to be collected, Meta will receive fewer signals to identify their interests and behavioural patterns. Without this data, Meta won’t be able to build audiences for ads as effectively, making its targeted advertising operation weaker. This may result in marketers opting not to spend money to advertise on the platform, which may decrease the value of Meta’s ad space.

When is it happening? Meta has said that seeking consent would be a major obstacle and that the changes would take at least three months to implement. This means Meta could be required to ask permission to collect data from users in Europe from October.

However, Meta has also proposed waiting until early next to update its policy to coincide with changes to EU regulations.

An exact timeline is yet to be confirmed but we will keep you posted.

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Why now? Meta suggested updating its policy after meeting with Ireland’s Data Protection Commission – its lead privacy regulator. Following lengthy discussions with the commission, during which substantial guidance was offered, Meta proposed updating its consent policy to ensure it adhered to EU laws.

Deep dive. Read Meta’s privacy policy for more information on how the company collects and stores data.

The post Meta to get consent before collecting data for targeted advertising in Europe appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/meta-consent-collecting-data-targeted-ads-europe-430125

Having a child costs £96,000 – here are 7 tips for new parents

Having a child costs £96,000 – here are 7 tips for new parents

It has been revealed that couples with children spend an average of £5,356 more a year than couples without kids. Over the course of 18 years, this comes to an eye- watering £96,416, with parents less likely to have enough cash leftover at the end of the month. They are also far less likely to have emergency savings or life insurance, compared to non-parents. Figures from the HL Savings and Resilience Barometer also show those with kids are more worried about debt.

So, here are 7 top tips for new parents, to help you save money in the short and long term, giving both yourself and your children financial security and resilience.

Try to get into a better financial position before having children

You’re going to need to draw up a tighter budget when the child is born, so why not do it as soon as you start planning for a family? You can use the cash you free up in order to pay down expensive short-term debts and build up any savings you can.

Make decisions about childcare

Often the biggest challenge in the early years is childcare. In some cases, a parent will want to give up work for a while, but in other cases they would prefer to work, but don’t feel they can afford the cost of childcare. It’s worth considering all the options before deciding.

Take the time to explore everything that’s available in your area – the difference between an expensive nursery and a childminder can be significant. You can also take steps to cut the formal care you need to pay for. This can include asking grandparents for help, juggling shifts with your partner, or sharing care with other friends.

See what help is available

Check if the government will offer help too, because both tax credit and universal credit have childcare allowances. Today’s babies will also benefit from the change that means from April 2024, working parents of two-year-olds can access 15 hours of free childcare. From September next year, this will be extended to babies from the age of nine months.

From September 2025, this will be expanded to 30 hours. In the interim, if you don’t already use childcare vouchers, you can’t sign up for them, but you can still get tax-free childcare to make your money go further.

Protect your family

Make sure your will is up to date and takes all your children into account – including establishing guardians if something was to happen to both parents. You also need to make sure you have enough life insurance, so they’re financially cared for if you pass away. Check your sick pay too – what it covers and how long it lasts for. If it’s not very generous, consider income protection, which will provide cash for you and your family if you are unable to work for a period.

Widen your safety net

We should all have a savings safety net of 3-6 months’ worth of essential expenses in an easy access savings account, in case of nasty surprises. When you have children, your essential expenses will increase, so you need to build your net bigger to account for this. If you already have emergency savings, consider the impact of inflation too – which will mean you’ll need more emergency cash to cover any expenses.

Set up a Junior ISA for gifts

If family and friends want to buy a present to celebrate your child’s birth – or for any subsequent birthday or Christmas – you can ask them to pay into the JISA and help build up a nest egg for when they turn 18. You can choose between a cash or stocks and shares JISA.

Parents may worry about investing, because they see it as a risk. However, while investments will go up and down in value in the short term, over an 18-year timescale, share-based investments will offer far more potential for growth than cash.

Don’t neglect your own needs

Children can easily soak up all the cash available, but it’s vital to keep your own needs in mind too. If you put your savings and long-term investments on hold, you’ll have an enormous amount of ground to make up later – particularly when it comes to pensions.

Where one parent works part-time for a longer period, there’s a risk they have a long break from paying into their pension, which can have serious repercussions for their retirement income. Some parents will choose to make extra contributions into the pension of the person working full time to make up for it, but it’s worth understanding the implications of that – particularly for unmarried parents. It makes sense to consider your household finances in the round and talk about ways you can free up cash so you can both pay into a pension if possible.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance, Hargreaves Lansdown, says:

“Children may be priceless, but they come with a shocking price tag. Couples with kids spend an average of £5,356 more every year than couples without – which over 18 years comes to an eye-watering £96,416. And as a result, their financial resilience suffers across the board. For single parents, life is even tougher, and they face far lower resilience on almost every measure.

“It’s not what parents need to hear as they embark on one of the most expensive times of year, but everything is more expensive with children in tow. Even when you just boil it down to the absolute essentials, couples with kids spend almost a fifth more than those without (£2,266 a month vs £1,923), while single parents spend more than a quarter more than singles without (£1,428 vs £1,150). It’s no wonder that, at the end of the month, a couple with kids has an average of £227 left after paying the bills, while a couple without children has £382, a single person living alone has £34 and a single parent just £25.

“It’s no wonder that only among couples with no children do more than half of people have enough cash at the end of the month to be resilient. Only 44% of parental couples have enough cash at the end of the month – and 25% of single parents (compared with 34% of singles living alone, and 54% of couples with no children).”

The post Having a child costs £96,000 – here are 7 tips for new parents appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/having-a-child-costs-96000-here-are-7-tips-for-new-parents

How can you get food vouchers for the school holidays?

How can you get food vouchers for the school holidays?

The school summer holidays are in full swing, and children everywhere are basking in the thrill of time off school. But it can be difficult during the school breaks for those who claim free school meals during term time.

Feeding children when they are away from being able to get free school meals daily can place strain on the wallets of parents everywhere, as well as bringing a new stress to them daily. Thousands of struggling households can get up to £390 in food vouchers for the holidays.

The Household Support Fund (HSF)

The Household Support Fund (HSF) was introduced by the government in 2021, and is a pot of money allocated to councils across England. The fund is worth over £2 billion so far, helping vulnerable households across the country.

Part of the fund is allocated to food – and helping those who claim free school meals or certain benefits receive support during the school holidays. What you can receive from the HSF depends on where you live – different council have received different amounts of money from the government. Similarly, some help is targeted at those who claim free school meals specifically, whilst other support is for those on certain benefits.

Food vouchers

Local authorities tend to deliver the scheme through a variety of routes – however many give vouchers to households. Other councils may provide food or goods directly, or issue grants to third parties. Vouchers can be redeemed at a number of food outlets including supermarkets and foodbanks.

The HSF is different from the Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF). The HAF programme provides free holiday club places with enriching activities and healthy meals to eligible children from low-income families. 

To find out more about accessing support during the school holidays, click here.

England

The HSF is only available in England at present. Below you will find the support available for every county in England.

Avon

For those in Avon, you can gain access to free support with money, including help with food, housing, energy bills, training and general wellbeing. You can apply here.

Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire Council has been allocated £2.9 million of funding from the Department for Work and Pensions to support households in Central Bedfordshire between April 2023 and March 2024 with food, energy and water bills, and other wider essentials. Click here to apply.

Berkshire

West Berkshire Council has been allocated funding to assist with costs such as energy bills, food, clothing and housing in exceptional circumstances. Priority will be given to households who are ineligible for other government support and vulnerable groups regarding the cost of living crisis. Click here to apply.

Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire Council provide free digital food vouchers to families with children eligible for free school meals, early years’ pupil premium or a 2-year-old funded free education place. If your family is eligible you will receive a voucher code from your school or early years setting. Find out more here.

Cambridgeshire

In Cambridgeshire, you are eligible to accesssupport through the HSF if all the following apply to you (and your spouse/partner):

  • Currently live in Cambridgeshire
  • Have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments
  • Have low income levels
  • Have not applied within the last 3 months

Find out more here.

Cheshire

Cheshire East Council have loads of help available here.

Cheshire West Council will be allocating £15 per week for each free school meal pupil to ensure families have the necessary financial support for food during the school holiday periods. There is no need for families to apply for this support as schools in Cheshire West and Chester will distribute the vouchers to eligible families prior to the following school holiday periods. Read more here.

Cornwall

Cornwall Council has secured £9 million pounds from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for the HSF. The Fund will mainly be used to provide one-off cash payments to help with the increased cost of living. £160 per child to families with children eligible for benefits related free school meals in Reception to Year 11 is available. 2 payments of £80 will be made, with the first payment being made in June 2023. A second payment will be made in November 2023. Payments will be made direct to families and you do not need to apply. Find out more here.

  • Cumbria

  • Cumberland Council has a limited amount of money available through the Household Support Fund to help people who are in financial crisis because of rising prices. Payments will only be made to help households in immediate crisis – for example, those unable to buy food, pay energy bills or buy other essentials. Click here to apply.

Derbyshire

Households facing financial hardship in Derbyshire can apply directly to the Derbyshire Discretionary Fund for help towards their food, and energy costs. Households can access up to 3 awards in a 12-month period. Payments are £64 per household plus an extra £20 will be provided for a partner or spouse, and each dependent child aged under 19. Click here to apply.

    Devon

    If a child or young person in a household qualifies for free school meals in term time then, currently, they automatically qualify for free school meal holiday vouchers from Devon Council. Households currently in receipt of free school meals are eligible for a supermarket voucher to the value of £15 per child per week of the school holidays to help pay for groceries over the break.

    The vouchers will automatically be distributed to eligible households prior to the summer holiday. Find out more here.

    Dorset

    Citizens Advice in Dorset are managing some of the Fund on our behalf via a voucher scheme. Supermarket vouchers of £150 will be issued to residents who meet the eligibility criteria within 6 to 8 weeks of their application date. Applications are limited to one per household. Click here to apply.

    Durham

    Durham council has been allocated £9.3 million to provide support to low income and vulnerable households who may be struggling with their energy and food costs, or who need other essential household items. You should automatically receive help. If you haven’t, click here.

    Essex

    If you are facing hardship, you can get help with your essential household costs. The organisations on this page can help you to access support through the Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund. You do not need to be claiming benefits to get support.

    Gloucestershire

    The DWP has provided Gloucestershire with of funding of £7,384,966. This will provide support to vulnerable households in most need of support, to help with significantly rising living costs. Click here to apply.

    Hampshire

    Households in Hampshire who are struggling to afford necessities such as food and fuel can get extra help from the connect4communities programme, funded by the HSF. Click here to find out more.

    Herefordshire

    Food vouchers will be provided for free school meal or pupil premium children during the school holidays. The vouchers are based on a minimum of £15 per week for each week of the holidays and schools should have organised directly with families who are entitled. Click here for more.

    Hertfordshire

    To support with the cost of living, Hertfordshire Council has been provided with funding from the government’s Household Support Fund. This will be used to help people in need with things like the cost of energy and food. Click here to apply.

    Isle of Wight

    Those on the Isle of Wight can find out more about receiving food vouchers from the HSF here.

    Kent

    In Kent, you will be eligible for food vouchers if one or more of the following apply:

    • Aged 16 or over
    • Be permanently living within one of the 12 local authorities covered by Kent County Council (this excludes Medway, Bexley or Bromley)
    • Be in receipt of means tested benefits or have a household income of less than £40,000 a year before tax
    • Have less than £1,000 in savings
    • Not get means-tested free school meals for any of your children

    Find out more here.

    Lancashire

    If you are a parent or carer of a child attending school (5 to 16-year-old) you will receive an electronic shopping voucher from your child’s school. If you are eligible, and have any questions, please speak to your child’s school. Find out more here.

    Leicestershire

    Households with children are eligible for up to £20  per adult per week and £15  per child  per week (for maximum of 2 weeks). Single households can get up to £25  per week (for maximum of 2 weeks). Multiple adult households can get £20 per adult per week (for maximum of 2 weeks). Find out more here.

    Lincolnshire

    Lincolnshire has been awarded a further £10,929,370 from the HSF. Approximately 43% of the funding will be delegated to schools and early years providers to support for children eligible for benefit-related free school meals, early years pupil premium and families with a 2-year-old eligible for early years entitlement. Click here to find out more.

    London

    Those in London can check with their local council to find out what support is available. Find your local council here.

    Merseyside

    Those in Liverpool can find a host of financial support and food help during the school holidays. Click here to find out more.

    Norfolk

    Norfolk was given £13.39m from the Government to support residents who are struggling to pay their energy and utility bills. This includes support for single households, families with or without children, older people and disabled people. The council have also provided an extra £400,000 to support people further. Click here to apply.

    Northamptonshire

    North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire Councils have different provisions for residents, depending on your location. Click here to find out what your council has to offer.

    Northumberland

    In Northumberland, the HSF can support with food, energy and bills, housing costs and more. If you are awarded a food e-voucher, you will need to go online to convert this into a gift card for Aldi, Iceland, Morrisons, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. Click here to apply.

    £11.2 million in total has been given to Nottinghamshire to be administered by Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with local district and borough councils. Summer and Winter support payments, both worth around £100 per household (based on number of eligible household occupants), will continue to support families with children entitled to Free School Meals as well as other households and individuals struggling with rising costs. Click here for more.

    Oxfordshire

    1. Those who receive Housing Benefits but do not also receive other qualifying benefits will not receive the national cost of living payments in 2022/23 or 2023/24. The County Council is using the Household Support Fund to make an expected payment of £450 to these residents. Those eligible residents will receive a letter from the Council during the summer. Click here for more information.

    • Rutland

    Those is Rutland may be able to receive a food voucher for households with school aged children for the school breaks, a one-off payment of £100 to eligible households in receipt of Local Council Tax Support, or a one-off payment of £100 to care leavers. Click here to apply.

    Shropshire

    Shropshire has been given a grant of £4.1 million from the Government’s national HSF Grant Scheme. Children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals in Shropshire will continue to receive support, usually through meal vouchers. Funding is for 10 weeks in total, which includes summer half term, 3 weeks of  the summer holiday, October half term, Christmas holiday, spring half term and the Easter holiday. This would benefit around 7,500 children, who will get an equivalent to £15 a week of support during these holiday periods.increases. Click here to apply.

    Somerset

    In Somerset, you can get help regardless of your work situation, provided you show that you are struggling to pay for essentials. The Household Support Fund will not affect your benefits. Click here to apply.

    Staffordshire

    Education Settings in Staffordshire will be provided with £20.00 supermarket eVouchers for their children that meet the eligibility criteria. Click here to find out more.

    Suffolk

    Where a child is eligible for income related free school meals, families will be contacted directly by their child’s school regarding supermarket voucher grants, available to them during the school holidays from April 2023 until March 2024. Further information is available here.

    Surrey

    The county of Surrey has been given £10.6m of funding from the HSF. The council decided that £5.232m of the fund would be used to enable the continued provision of food vouchers to eligible children over the school holidays. Read more here.

    Sussex

    Those in West Sussex can apply for the HSF here.

    Residents in East Sussex need to contact their local council for support.

    Click here to find out more. If you are located in Mid-Sussex, click here for info on getting the financial support you need.

    Tyne & Wear

    Those under the jurisdiction of South Tyneside Council may be eligible to  a single payment of £150 per household. Click here to find out more. 

    North Tyneside has been awarded £3,219,996 to help our most financially vulnerable households in the borough over the coming year. Those entitled to income related Free School Meals will receive £15 supermarket vouchers for each week of the school holidays per child. Click here to find out more.

    Newcastle City Council will also provide food vouchers for those entitled to free school meals. Read more.

    Warwickshire

    Due to the limited amount of funds Warwickshire Council has available, they will prioritise items necessary for day to day living such as food, energy and water and particularly those who may not be eligible for other support the government has recently made available. Find out more here.

    West Midlands

    Applications for Birmingham City Council Hardship Grant Community Fund open on Monday 31 July 2023. The Council will distribute grants of up to £200 to Birmingham households facing financial hardship. The funds are intended to help with food and energy costs. Click here to apply.

    Wiltshire

    Wiltshire Council has been allocated £5.4 million in round four of the HSF. The funding will be distributed through partner organisation and council departments. Families and young children can receive food vouchers and parcels. Click here to apply.

    Worcestershire

    Worcestershire City Council is supporting people who receive free school meals in the holidays. You will need to contact your school directly regarding the issuing of Free School Meal vouchers during school holidays. Find more information here.

    Yorkshire

    Those in the City of York will be invited to apply for the HSF. If you think you are eligible but have not been contacted, click here.

    In North Yorks, you can receive food e-Vouchers to use in-store and online with supermarkets. More information will be released in the coming months here.

    If you are in East Riding, your school should have already given you a supermarket voucher for the holidays. Get more info here.

    Wales

    The Welsh government recently axed support for those receiving free school meals. However, three district councils – Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Powys councils have found the cash from their own budgets for the school break.

    It is also worth contacting your local council, as they may have an allocated budget for this.

    Scotland

    If you get free school meals you may also be able to get help during the school holidays. To qualify you need to get one of the benefits in the eligibility section. You need to contact your local council to find out how to apply. This does not apply if your child gets free school meals due to only being in primary 1 to 5. You need to also get the benefits in the eligibility section. Contact your local council for more information.

    Northern Ireland

    Those in Northern Ireland are encourage to contact the Education Authority to receive help.

    The post How can you get food vouchers for the school holidays? appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

    Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/where-can-you-get-food-vouchers-in-the-holidays

    8 Reliable Sources of Capital for Small Businesses

    Home Business Magazine Online

    One of the most challenging things for small business owners is the lack of enough capital. It affects your company’s daily operations and stalls various projects, such as expansion opportunities and launching of new products.

    As a matter of fact, according to a study by CB Insights, 38% of over 110 startups fail as a result of running out of cash.

    Fortunately, there are great ways of collecting funds for your business. Let us take you through reliable sources of capital for small businesses.

    1. Angel Investors

    Angel investors are wealthy private people who finance small businesses in exchange for equity. They use their net worth and are usually more patient and friendly to entrepreneurs by giving them smaller dollar amounts for a long time.

    However, angel investors want to see an exit strategy where they can get their profits through either an acquisition or a public offering. Best of all, they fund businesses in various industries, but your company must be established beyond the startup phase to get an angel.

    2. Small Business Loans

    They are business loans issued by participating lenders, mainly banks with low-interest rates and flexible terms. A small business loan helps to cover things like working capital needs, startup costs, real estate purchases, expansions, and more. These loans are favorable because they are backed by the federal government and issued by a private lender that provides a guide to help with all your money-related interactions.

    You apply for small business loans through a lending institution, such as a credit union or a bank affiliated with the program. Also, the loans are backed by the government, and if you default on the money, it pays back the financial institution the guaranteed amount. Unfortunately, you should have at least 20% ownership in the business to qualify for the loan.

    3. Friends and Family

    Seeking investments from your personal network helps you to raise low-interest finances for your small business. The good thing about it is that the investment compensation for family and friends is typically lower than that of professional investors.

    So, identify suitable candidates who have enough finances and may accept to offer their help. After, pitch to them your idea with the amount of money you need, the terms, repayment plans, and the amount of interest to give on their funds. They could be close family members, childhood friends, or work colleagues.

    4. Venture Capitalists

    Venture capitalists are private equity investors that provide capital to businesses with high growth potential. However, they need an equity stake in exchange for the funding. They fund both small companies wishing to expand and startup ventures.

    Additionally, venture capitalists look for businesses with a large potential market, strong management teams, and unique products. They risk investing in a high-potential business because they earn massive returns when it succeeds.

    5. CrowdFunding

    Successful crowdfunding campaigns are great sources of capital for many small businesses. But you need to first win the attention of various backers by convincing them that your business idea is worthy of their funds.

    They will analyze your project and decide whether it is worth investing in the business. There are different ways how the funding is made, including:

    • Donation-based funding. Backers do not want anything in return.
    • Equity funding. Contributors get shares.
    • Debt-based funding. You repay donors with interest.
    • Reward-based funding. Backers receive services or goods in return for their funds.

    Crowdfunding provides the necessary cash flow for your business to launch new projects or get off the ground. Moreover, the campaigns are mainly held on internet platforms with set time frames for raising money.

    6. Government Grants

    Government grants are quantities of money awarded to individuals, businesses, or organizations by a government agency to finance particular projects. They are excellent sources of finances for small businesses and provide the needed capital for starting or expanding operations. Also, you can use a grant to develop new products or access new markets.

    On the other hand, governments usually have different types of grants, and the application process varies depending on the agency in charge of the program. But it usually includes submitting a proposal outlining the goals and objectives of your company.

    7. Invoice Factoring

    It is a process where you turn over your business’s outstanding invoices to a factoring firm for immediate cash. You get a partial payment in advance as soon as you submit them. Invoice factoring saves you when you have a pile of unpaid invoices but need quick money to cover some business expenses.

    The firm gives you money and waits for the invoices to get paid, and once your clients pay, it gives you the balance after deducting its money. To qualify for invoice factoring, you must have:

    • Issued invoices already to clients.
    • No history of bankruptcy and clean tax records.
    • Good clients with clean credit history.

    8. Credit Cards

    Both owners of large multinational companies and sole proprietors qualify for business credit cards. Most companies use them to handle expenses like supplies, traveling, and paying utility bills.

    Best of all, business credit cards help you to build business credit, which banks and other lenders consider when you apply for a company loan. Check the various cards and choose one that is the best fit for your business needs.

    Collect Enough Capital for Your Business

    Collecting enough capital for your small business improves its survival rate because it enables you to finance all-important company projects. When you have the needed finances, you easily keep up with the competition in your industry, like launching better new products before your competitors.

    The post 8 Reliable Sources of Capital for Small Businesses appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

    Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/business-start-up/raising-money/8-reliable-sources-capital-small-businesses/

    Andi Search launches new semantic content engine

    Andi Search today is launching a new semantic content engine, as well as better source attribution and a new user experience.

    Concepts over keywords. Andi Search is now better at understanding concepts, according to company founder Angela Hoover. The goal is to better highlight content. Being able to rank content semantically helps Andi do that, Hoover said.

    • “What makes the web great is the high-quality content that producers spend hours researching, writing and creating. Fair content attribution, however, has been an issue in search from all the way back when Google started doing snippets, and now LLM search opens up a new paradigm for an experience that buries the original content producer even more.
    • “Our commitment is to showcase great content and useful information, not steal it. There’s a way to do GenAI search that benefits both the user and producers of media,” Hoover said.

    What it looks like. Here’s an example search for [suggest ideas for lowering blood pressure as a 35 year old]:

    ANDi

    Visual updates. Andi now uses a “universal image discriminator,” which detects an image’s size and quality, then dynamically resizes it to display in its visual feed. Images are sourced from the webpages in Andi’s search results.

    What is Andi. Andi is a startup search engine that was doing conversational, generative question answering before the new Bing and Google Search Generative Experience. It generates results from its index of 30,000 high-quality websites.

    Dig deeper. Andi Search adds Generated Content feature.

    Why we care. Andi, recognizing the importance of citing its sources, is trying to set itself apart from the generative AI experiences from Google and Bing. While Andi is an alternative search engine with a tiny fraction of Google’s user base and isn’t on your SEO radar, watching the evolution of Andi’s visual, feed-based take on search results is interesting.

    The post Andi Search launches new semantic content engine appeared first on Search Engine Land.

    Original source: https://searchengineland.com/andi-search-semantic-content-engine-430029