The Best Spend Management Platform to Optimize Payment Workflows

Home Business Magazine Online

If you’re looking to significantly improve how your business manages corporate spend, it’s important to increase the efficiency of your payment workflows.

To achieve this, there’s one thing you need to implement in your process:

A spend management platform.

In this article, you’ll learn what a spend management platform is and why it’s the perfect tool to help you optimize your payment workflows.

What is a spend management platform?

A spend management platform is advanced software that gives you full control over your corporate spend.

The software gives you complete visibility over your business spend, where you can see every transaction that takes place across every area of the company. This can be payments made by certain employees, various teams, specific cards, or any other type of transaction.

On top of this, you’ll also be able to use a wide range of features which are designed to give you further control over your spending. You can accurately monitor and refine every aspect of your corporate spend, so your process runs smoothly and efficiently for your finance team.

How can spend management optimize your payment workflows?

One of the most important aspects of improving your corporate spend is optimizing your payment workflows. With the right spend management platform, you can achieve this in a wide variety of ways, including:

  • Various spend controls

Spend management software gives you access to a range of spend controls, and these are important for helping you optimize your workflows.

For example, one of the controls available is the use of spend limits.

These are specific limits you can set on your payments so that any transactions which might exceed a certain amount are prevented.

As well as this, you have full flexibility when it comes to implementing your spend limits. You can decide to set different limits for each team in the company, for each corporate credit card, or even for specific types of purchases.

This way, only payments that align with your company budgets will be permitted, and you won’t need to spend time analyzing each payment to see if it’s suitable.

  • Automated payment processes

Another way you can optimize your payment workflows is with automated payment processes.

These allow you to complete a variety of processes within your spend management, without needing any manual intervention.

For instance, one thing this includes is being able to automate your approval processes. This allows every payment request that fits within certain criteria to be automatically approved.

With traditional forms of payment approvals, it can often take several days before a transaction is reviewed and either accepted or rejected.

However, automated approvals allow transactions to complete much quicker, without any delays or interruptions from long-winded approval processes.

  • Useful spend insights

You can also optimize your payment workflows with the useful spend insights that are offered by your spend management platform.

These insights help you understand exactly how your business is spending money, and where you can be more efficient.

For example, you can receive insights into which areas of your company are spending the most over a certain period. This can be specific teams, or certain types of payments — e.g., employee expenses or software purchases.

This way, you’ll know exactly where to focus your efforts on improving workflows, such as implementing spend limits or new conditions for your approval processes.

The more visibility you have into your corporate spend, the more effectively you can adjust your workflows.

The post The Best Spend Management Platform to Optimize Payment Workflows appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/money/money-management/spend-management-platform-optimize-payment-workflows/

Why SEOs should focus on creating trust

While trust is not a new marketing concept, it does not get the attention it deserves in most SEO strategies. 

This article will break down the overlooked importance of trust in SEO efforts and how to incorporate trust-building into your strategy.

Overlooking the value of trust is a missed SEO opportunity

Fellow Search Engine Land contributor Andrew Holland expressed dismay over his bad user experience with a UK-based retail brand. He felt they “didn’t show up” when he needed them as a customer, which in turn blemished his trust in the brand.

Instead of ranting (as I would have), he used the experience as an opportunity to educate, stressing the importance of trust and how it affects SEO. 

When people do not trust you and your website, they won’t buy, come back and recommend your products and services. 

The retail website Holland referred to has been his go-to for many years, so he might give it another chance. 

But for most websites, losing a user’s trust once means losing them as a customer forever.

Google on the importance of trust 

The original Google PageRank algorithm measures trust to some extent. Trust is also incorporated into Google algorithms with an increased focus on user experience (UX) and website security.

Trust is also a central component in how Google assesses content quality for search. 

Time and again, Google has reiterated the importance of E-A-T on “Your money or your life” (YMYL) topics like health, safety and financial advice. 

In December, Google’s revised quality rater guidelines (QRG) for search introduced the updated E-E-A-T concept while emphasizing that  “trust” is at the center of the search and is the “most important member of the E-E-A-T family.”

As E-E-A-T signals are among the main elements that Google ranking systems determine, we can safely assume that trust impacts SEO in manifold ways.

Get the daily newsletter search marketers rely on.

<input type="hidden" name="utmMedium" value="“>
<input type="hidden" name="utmCampaign" value="“>
<input type="hidden" name="utmSource" value="“>
<input type="hidden" name="utmContent" value="“>
<input type="hidden" name="pageLink" value="“>
<input type="hidden" name="ipAddress" value="“>

Processing…Please wait.

See terms.

function getCookie(cname) {
let name = cname + “=”;
let decodedCookie = decodeURIComponent(document.cookie);
let ca = decodedCookie.split(‘;’);
for(let i = 0; i <ca.length; i++) {
let c = ca[i];
while (c.charAt(0) == ' ') {
c = c.substring(1);
}
if (c.indexOf(name) == 0) {
return c.substring(name.length, c.length);
}
}
return "";
}
document.getElementById('munchkinCookieInline').value = getCookie('_mkto_trk');

SEO tips for making a trustworthy website

Making your site more trustworthy for searchers and search engines benefits your brand.

Below are tips for improving the overall trust in your site that often affect Google rankings.

1. Name, brand and URL

Use an actual name or brand for your website URL (i.e., brand.com). Choose a trustworthy URL structure that is short, simple and conventional.

Also, consider the following:

  • Top-level domain (TLD): Opt for “.com” is still the most trusted TLD (a recent Yandex code leak also supports this).
  • Branding: Steer away from exact match domains with many hyphens (e.g., best-seo-company-usa.biz). 

Make sure your website URL is readable. Compare this…

  • example.com/seo/creating-trust

…with this…

  • best-seo-company-usa.biz/seo-blog/creating-trust-a-core-role-of-seo

2. Clean and working UX

Holland’s example of misguided infinite scroll (plus his inability to catch the footer links) is a concrete example of annoying UX.

Think of the elements that affect the trust on-page. How can you make a good impression from the start?

Simple navigation

Mega-menus and interactive menus showing numerous items on mouse over and completely hidden “hamburger menus” are not helpful. Straightforward site navigation is best.

Clean site structure

A clear information architecture follows when you have a clean and simple menu structure. 

However, feature creep happens and ongoing additions can make a site confusing quickly. 

When in doubt, implement breadcrumb navigation to show visitors where they are at any given moment.

White space

Is your site cluttered and filled with widgets, related stories and ads all vying for the visitor’s attention? 

You might be overwhelming users who just landed on your website. They won’t hesitate to leave.

Adding white space (negative space) makes your website readable.

Working links

On WordPress, you can install a broken links plugin that automatically checks whether your links work as intended. Some external links do not break but are redirected to parking or rogue sites. 

Static sites need to use a website crawler like Screaming Frog occasionally to find out whether their links still work.

3. Content

In the earlier example, Holland sought helpful content to make the right purchase decisions. 

When users know your website offers valuable content, they are more likely to trust you with their money.

Giving something for free first (the content)

The law of reciprocity is one of human relations’ most important rules. People are willing to help when they have received something from the other party. 

By delivering helpful content, you are making a good impression on people. As a result, they may even spread the word about you or make a purchase.

Expertise

An empty site that claims you are the best SEO expert around won’t be persuasive. Trust is established by showing, not telling. 

Can you say something to prove your expertise on a subject matter? Then do it. 

Many people hold back to protect their “trade secrets” yet lose potential customers that way.

Advice 

One of the best ways to help is to offer advice. Without sharing your insights, many potential customers must look elsewhere and trust somebody else. 

In the good old days of brick-and-mortar stores, you had actual clerks offering advice. This type of free service is substituted by web content.

4. Ads

Why are ads harmful when it comes to trust? Having ads on your site is among the most important negative ranking factors, as the recent Yandex code leak shows. 

It’s not just Yandex. With its page layout algorithm, Google has singled out ad-heavy sites as far back as January 2012. In 2014, they went after ad-heavy sites (above the fold) with the “top-heavy algorithm.”

Moderation

Too many ads, especially animated and blinking ones, are ostracizing visitors. Display ads on your site in moderation. You are not trustworthy when your website is overloaded with ads. 

Google takes this into account algorithmically. Likewise, marketers often advocate huge interstitials or overlays that hide the content. Those may grow your conversion rate by 2% but also annoy the other 98%. 

How many of those will trust you enough to come back or recommend you?

Above the fold 

The page layout algorithm takes care of websites that make it hard to find the actual content behind or below the myriads of ads that look like the content itself. 

Use ads above the fold sparingly and clearly separate ads from unpaid content. Tricking people into clicking ads is not trustworthy.

Transparency 

When showing ads, make sure to label them. It must be clear that they are ads or sponsored. 

You can do so by saying “ad,” “sponsored” or “advertorial” depending on what you are talking about. In the U.S., the FTC requires such disclosures. Google does, and people want to know in the first place. 

You may get fewer clicks but also more returning visitors who will trust you.

Full disclosure of conflicts of interests

Hidden ads are not as easily spotted as you might think. 

Often, business people write content on behalf of their employers. It’s editorial content but still an ad or advertorial. 

Sometimes it’s even harder to tell because it’s merely a mention inside a post. 

Make sure to disclose affiliations when in doubt. You might look biased but also more trustworthy.

Affiliate links

Affiliations are often simply links to Amazon or other partner sites. 

Over the years, many bloggers linked to Amazon without telling readers they get a commission from the number one ecommerce site. 

Thus I stopped reading most blogs that pushed books without telling me they earn money that way. Instead, I trusted those that didn’t.

5. Real humans behind the site

In the era of all-pervading AI and redundant content, showing that real people are behind a business is more important than ever. 

Real people who are “trustworthy” are often still the decisive factor in whether someone wants to do business with you. 

Some people trust written words, while others want to see you and literally look you in the eyes.

About us page 

Your About page should tell them why they should trust you. So you show them your team. 

It’s not about whether they look good, but whether real humans are behind your company.

Ideally, you also list reasons why they should trust you. Think of credentials, industry backgrounds, and awards. 

Author bio

Unless you have only a single author on your blog or website, you might want to add author bios to each published article. The more “real” you look, the better. 

Even single-author blogs can benefit from them. Personally, I’m not particularly eager to post images online. I also use an illustration based on a photo as my avatar on social media, but I published a recent photo in Search Engine Land.

Real team photos (no stock photography) 

Many website owners go the cheap and easy way of showing stock photos suggesting that the people pictured are part of the team. 

A professional photographer might help and the investment will pay off in future sales.

In local search results, stock photos are already banned. Google can identify such images and probably also discounts them in general search, too.

Unique, subjective take

Many businesses tend to publish completely impersonal press release type of content full of buzzwords. Numerous departments had approved such noisy content before barely any signal was left in it.

Real human mistakes or biases might be more trustworthy than aloof meaninglessness. As Google aims to reward “first-hand experience,” consider sharing a subjective opinion rather than just an amorphous mix that makes everyone happy.

6. Security and safety measures

Safety and security are often the first things people look at when deciding whether to trust a website or business. 

Does the site look sketchy? Then they don’t even bother. 

Google has long ago introduced corresponding ranking signals and made them more critical over the years.

SSL (encryption)

HTTPS websites are by now standard for ecommerce. Google uses encryption as “minor ranking factor” officially

Given their extensive documentation on the subject, we can deduce it’s more important than that. 

Even informational websites use SSL or other encryption, especially when sending potentially private data through contact forms. 

You get a rather small boost from Google, but visitors will be glad to see they are on a secure site.

Trust symbols (badges, reviews, testimonials) 

Most SEO agencies display their “Google Partner” badges on their websites. While it works to establish trust for some people, experts know that you get that badge for buying ads. 

So you might want to add other relevant badges and trust symbols like verifiable reviews and testimonials with real names on your homepage. 

In the U.S., the Better Business Bureau has a seal of approval. It’s not a direct ranking factor, but the QRGs mention it often.

When all your on-page reviews are five stars and enthusiastic, I won’t trust them at all.

Privacy policy

Sure, most people don’t read privacy policies, especially those in legalese. 

They have to exist, though. Work on making them findable and readable on the website. 

You already lose trust if your privacy policy is hidden somewhere and full of fine print. 

For some types of sites (e.g., health, online dating and financial services), your privacy policy should be perfect, not just something for lawyers to study.

No tracking

Once I realized how invasive trackers and cookies were, I removed all of them from my site. 

Then I used third-party tools to locate hidden third-party trackers from Google, Facebook and other web giants. 

Tracking your visitors might be off-putting depending on your business whereabouts and what you offer.

Most websites want you to agree to numerous trackers and cookies upon entry, making it difficult to opt-out. You can gain trust immediately by not having any trackers on your site.

In action: Optimizing for search and displaying trust

Back to Holland’s suggestion: I was surprised to find content and advice among the most important ways of establishing trust. Usually, most of the other options I listed above get highlighted first.

He even created a chart showing the impact trust can have on sales:

Building trust - Andrew Holland

He goes beyond what usually is meant by trust in the SEO sense by focusing on content creation for informational purposes. He concludes:

  • “… a lack of content and rankings has certainly lost my trust. Are they losing the trust of others?”

This is the type of SEO I have practiced myself successfully for years.

I was usually over-sharing my expertise on blogs and social media to establish trust and thus often got opportunities that way.

Many people in SEO work for well-known brands or “Fortune 500” companies behind closed doors after signing NDAs and simply share their credentials by mentioning some brand names they worked for.

Yet we have no way of verifying their expertise. What exactly have they done? Did it push the brand forward? 

This is also the kind of trust-building Holland means to some extent. Trustworthy brands can gain additional revenue by offering advice to potential customers, as demonstrated in his example.

Establishing trust: A core competency for SEO practitioners

Who is responsible for establishing trust on a website? 

  • The design alias UX department to some extent. 
  • The content team as well. 
  • The dev team has to implement some technologies like SSL. 

Yet the SEO is the ideal person to coordinate those efforts, especially looking for potential issues others overlooked. 

I bet the UX team loved the infinite scroll. It may bring some earnings, but at the expense of a broken website and annoyed visitors. You know it isn’t worth it.

The post Why SEOs should focus on creating trust appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/seo-creating-trust-394399

Tiffany Walden: Eagle Mountain’s New Shopping and Food Haven

Home Business Magazine Online

Eagle Mountain is one of the fastest-growing cities in America, and big businesses are taking notice. This breathtaking region of Utah is bustling with activity as new developments are underway. Residents will soon enjoy a food and shopping center at the corner of Eagle Mountain Boulevard and Pony Express Parkway, right in the heart of town.

It will serve as the base for Wendy’s, Subway, Chipotle, Taco Bell, Wing Stop, Little Caesars, Ace Hardware, and Macey’s Grocery. Other businesses will also establish shops, including Gamer’s Inn, Peppy Paws, Noodles & Company, Sun Republic, Great Clips, Swig, Crumbl, and America First Credit Union. These will address the needs of the community and bring everyone closer together.

Tiffany Walden is spearheading the project for her fellow residents. The real estate investor believes in the tremendous potential of Eagle Mountain, citing its excellent location in the middle of Utah’s urban corridor. The city has a natural landscape that encourages exploration. Many come here for brief outdoor adventures and come back for permanent settlement.

The population ballooned from 250 in 1996 to over 50,000 in 2022. Most transplants are young and high-educated individuals attracted by affordable homes and recreation opportunities. Although locals embrace development, they protect the wildlife and preserve the city’s charm through innovative projects.

Eagle Mountain is part of the Provo-Orem metropolitan area. In 2001, the once sleepy town became a fourth-class city. It has natural landmarks, including sections of the original Pony Express trail — the old mail delivery network that ran from Missouri to California and used horse riders to carry cargo. Ancient Fremont Indians also carved rock art petroglyphs around 1,800 years ago. The Lake Mountains form its eastern and southern borders. The original territory extended west with the annexation of White Hills and parts of Pole Canyon, pushing the total land area to 50.43 square miles.

A Long Journey to the Mountain City

A picture of the skyline view of Salt Lake City, Utah. SLC is just 30 minutes north of Eagle Mountain, the growing Utah city that John Walden founded.
Photo by Brent Pace on Unsplash

Like most people in Eagle Mountain, Tiffany Walden grew up elsewhere. She spent her childhood in Brevard County, Florida. The environment couldn’t be farther from Utah, literally and figuratively. It wasn’t a happy period in her life. Her parents drifted apart shortly after her birth. After her mother left, her father threw himself into his work. She and her brother lacked parental supervision, leading to unfortunate incidents. She tried to escape the deteriorating situation, but she was unsuccessful. Her father sent her to a facility in Orlando, where she stayed for three years.

Mental health was a poorly understood subject back then. Instead of providing helpful treatment, the facility kept Tiffany Walden in a windowless warehouse and subjected her to abusive behaviors. This chaotic childhood prevented her from attending school. At 15, she developed Crohn’s disease — a digestive tract inflammation that leads to abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, and malnutrition. The illness forced her father to pull her out of the facility. By then, she was old enough to go to high school.

In 2004, Tiffany Walden and her young son moved to Eagle Mountain to get a fresh start. It was the logical choice since her father, John Walden, was among the people responsible for establishing the city. She started from the bottom in the new place, taking on a waitressing job to support her small family. It wasn’t easy, but she kept showing up to earn a living. Her hard work paid off. The people around her noticed her diligence and dedication, including her father.

Rising to the Top

In 2008, John Walden asked Tiffany to join his business. He needed someone trustworthy to manage 50 spec homes that he converted into rental units because of the recession. Being away from her father for most of her life, she was unfamiliar with real estate. She took a leap of faith anyway and began learning about the industry. The job helped her gain valuable knowledge and experience. In 2012, she knew enough to set up her own LLC and take on greater responsibilities in the business. She handled property development finance and bookkeeping with excellent results.

Tiffany Walden never rested on her laurels. She continued to educate herself about real estate until she became an expert on various topics. Her commitment was clear to see. Eventually, her father began to look at her not as a helper but as a competent partner. He took her from the shadows into the forefront of the business. John Walden took her to meetings so she could listen in. He also introduced her to the decision-makers: real estate developers, local government officials, and state legislators. When John Walden passed away in 2017, Tiffany was ready to take over. He formally designated her as his replacement in the company, and she proved her worth as a leader.

Honoring a Legacy

It was a difficult transition. Walden had to mourn her loss while taking on tremendous responsibilities and dealing with seven lawsuits. She managed to steer the company in the right direction despite the obstacles. Her short tenure is already overflowing with impressive achievements, such as quadrupling her financial inheritance and employing 250 people in different businesses. Walden also orchestrated a deal with Facebook for the purchase of 1,000 acres. She built roughly 80 homes each year since taking over and continued to develop vital infrastructure for sustainable growth. The goal is to create a functional city that residents can be proud of — a dream she shares with her father.

Tiffany Walden calls Eagle Mountain her home. She tries to give back to the place where she healed, such as volunteering for the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition. She also devotes her time to the city’s development, including the new food and shopping haven. Residents will experience unparalleled convenience and a greater sense of community once this hub is ready to serve their needs.

The post Tiffany Walden: Eagle Mountain’s New Shopping and Food Haven appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/businesses/success-stories-businesses/tiffany-walden-eagle-mountains-new-shopping-food-haven/

Samer Mouasher: Jordan MUST Move Towards Sustainable Mining

Home Business Magazine Online

Jordan is a country rich in natural resources, including minerals and metals, which makes the mining sector a significant contributor to its economy. However, the mining industry can have negative impacts on the environment and local communities if it is not conducted sustainably.

“Jordan must move towards sustainable mining practices to ensure that the country’s natural resources are utilized responsibly, without harming the environment or communities,” says Samer Mouasher, an entrepreneur and founder of several companies and organizations in the fields of environmental mining, green energy, and technology. Mr. Mouasher’s companies are committed to promoting sustainable and environmentally conscious practices in their respective industries.

Since Jordan boasts the significant achievement of being the world’s sixth-largest producer and second-largest exporter of phosphate and its fourth-largest producer and second-largest exporter of potash, it must consider the importance of implementing green mining principles.

What Are the Benefits of Green Mining?

The process of extracting minerals and metals in a manner that minimizes negative impacts on the environment and local communities can be achieved by using modern technologies and best practices. Green mining means reducing the amount of waste generated, conserving energy and water resources as well as minimizing pollution.

Jordan set out to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and has already taken steps towards sustainable mining. Furthermore, Jordan established a National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) that recognizes the importance of sustainable mining practices. However, more needs to be done to ensure that mining activities in Jordan are conducted sustainably.

“Jordan must consider not only the economic benefits of our mining sector but also the impact it has on its environment and communities. It is our duty to make sure that the impact is beneficial,” states Mouasher.

Good Sustainable Mining Practices

Jordan’s mining industry has experienced a significant increase in revenues in 2022. According to Hamzeh S. Al-Alayani, a board member of a Jordanian public-sector government investment management company and a regular commentator on regional energy and industrial matters, the mining sector’s revenues have increased by 120 percent, equivalent to JD 845.4 million ($1.192 billion) compared to the same period in 2021.

Another important aspect of sustainable mining in Jordan is the management of waste generated during the mining process. Mining activities can generate significant amounts of waste, including tailings and waste rock, which can have negative environmental impact if not managed correctly. Sustainable mining practices can reduce waste generation through the use of innovative technologies that allow for the reuse and recycling of materials, and by adopting best practices for waste management.

Sustainable mining practices involve ensuring that mining activities do not adversely affect the environment or health of the local people. It is also of great importance that mining activities provide economic benefits to the local communities. This can be achieved through partnerships between mining companies and local communities, where the latter is involved in decision-making processes, and benefits from training and employment opportunities provided by mining companies.

Reducing the Environmental Footprint of Mining

In the World Bank report “Minerals for Climate Action: The Mineral Intensity of the Clean Energy Transition” it is observed that clean energy technologies will require more minerals, the carbon footprint of their production — from extraction to end use. To meet the growing demand, the production of minerals is estimated to increase by almost 500% by 2050, according to the World Bank. Additionally, in order to achieve a below-2°C future, over 3 billion tonnes of green minerals and metals for solar photovoltaics, batteries, electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, fuel cells, and nuclear reactors will be required globally.

Traditional mining practices have significant environmental impact, such as air and water pollution, deforestation, soil erosion, and habitat destruction. In order to reduce the environmental footprint of mining, the concept of green mining has emerged. Green mining involves the use of modern technologies, best practices, and innovative solutions to reduce the environmental impact of mining operations while ensuring efficient extraction of minerals. The use of renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from mining activities while recycling and re-use of materials also help reduce the environmental footprint of mining.

Green mining practices also prioritize the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity. To achieve this, companies use techniques such as precision mining, where the extraction process is optimized to minimize the amount of material removed, and therefore, reducing the impact on the surrounding environment. Similarly, the use of bioremediation techniques, such as using plants or bacteria to remove pollutants from contaminated soil, can help restore ecosystems affected by mining activities.

While traditional mining practices have long been a part of the global economy, increasing demand for sustainable and environmentally responsible practices has led to the emergence of green mining. Green mining practices can help mining companies meet this demand while reducing their environmental impact and improving social and economic benefits.

In conclusion, sustainable mining is crucial for the long-term development of Jordan’s mining industry, and the country’s overall sustainable development. By adopting sustainable mining practices, Jordan can ensure that its natural resources are used responsibly, without harming the environment or local communities, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

The post Samer Mouasher: Jordan MUST Move Towards Sustainable Mining appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/businesses/go-green/samer-mouasher-jordan-must-move-towards-sustainable-mining/

PPC salaries 2023: How much do in-house, self-employed, and agency search marketers make

Determining how much you should be compensated can be challenging, awkward, and sometimes even intimidating, as it requires balancing personal expectations with industry standards and organizational constraints. However, a recent PPC salary survey might offer some insights, enabling you to decide whether to negotiate a pay raise or explore new opportunities.

Duane Brown, CEO & Head of Strategy at Take Some Risk, has compiled and published his yearly examination of PPC salaries. The comprehensive report, featuring 112 slides, is based on data from 902 participants and conveniently breaks down gross salaries by country and region.

While the survey is packed with information, we’ll concentrate on a few key aspects: agency, freelancer, and in-house salaries for male and female PPC specialists in the U.S. For a more in-depth analysis, view the full PDF report here.

Brown acknowledges in the report that some data may be skewed due to respondents with only 1-3 years of PPC experience but who have been working for a decade or longer.

Agency PPC salaries. The median salary ranged from $50,182 $47,500 (less than one year of experience) to $199,000 (15+ years of experience).

These figures are up significantly from the 2022 report that showed $47,500 (less than one year of experience) to $139,000 (15+ years of experience)

This was based on 219 responses from people who work for an agency. Here’s the chart:

agency search marketers

In-house PPC salaries. The median salary ranged from $62,150 (one to two years of experience) to $124,000 (15+ years of experience). This was based on 125 responses from people who work for a client or brand.

There weren’t enough participants working in-house with under 1 year of experience to survey.

Self-employed. The median salary for self-employed people is $155,833 for those with 3-5 years of experience. The highest compensation for this category occurred in those with 10-15 years of experience, coming in at $322,500.

CEO & Head of Strategy
Duane Brown

Company size. The survey also looked at salaries by company size. If you’re looking to get a six-figure salary, your best chances will be working at a company with 1-10 employees.

This is a stark contrast to the 2022 report, where the highest median salaries reported were at companies of 200+ employees. 

Employment

Male vs. female. In a shocking twist, females with 9 years of experience or less were paid more than their male counterparts. However, for those who have 10 years or more of experience, males earn more on average.

The most significant disparity comes in at the 10-15 year range, where females earn $130,000 and makes $160,000.

Freelancer
Home Business

Why we care. Understanding your worth and appreciating the work you do is crucial. Whether you’re in-house, a freelancer, or at an agency, multiple factors affect your salary, including your location, experience, gender, and negotiation skills. Keeping informed about PPC salary trends and industry benchmarks can empower you during negotiations for your next role or salary increase. Recognizing your value will not only help you secure fair compensation but also contribute to overall career satisfaction and success.

The post PPC salaries 2023: How much do in-house, self-employed, and agency search marketers make appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/ppc-salaries-2023-how-much-do-in-house-self-employed-and-agency-search-marketers-make-394601

Google Search Status Dashboard to gain ranking update history

Google is adding a new “ranking” section to the Google Search Status dashboard it launched last December. The new ranking section will include active and historical Google algorithm updates, so that you can see what changed with Google Search related to ranking, not just crawling, indexing or serving.

New dashboard. Here is what the new dashboard looks like, Google added a “ranking” section:

Dashboard

Here is what it looked like previously, with only crawling, indexing and serving:

Digital media

Algorithm updates. Google will soon add the new ranking section, which “will show the active March 2023 core update, plus history up to 2020,” the company said on Twitter. This is not completed yet, as you do not see the March 2023 core update listed yet, but it will soon.

Why we care. This is another way to see what ranking changes were released by Google. This is in addition to the current Google Search updates page and of course, our reporting here.

The post Google Search Status Dashboard to gain ranking update history appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/google-search-status-dashboard-to-gain-ranking-update-history-394614

Get free pastries, baguettes and other baked goods

Reading Time: 2 mins

Baked goods can be some of the most satisfying, delicious foods on the planet. Who doesn’t love the smell of a freshly baked loaf of bread, or a flaky pastry with their morning coffee?
Well, if you love a warm, buttery baguette or pizza slice as much as we do, you are in luck!
Wildfarmed is a food business representing change by farming differently. Wildfarmed flour is regenerative, fully traceable and is grown in a way that prioritises soil health. Grown without herbicides, fungicides or pesticides, Wildfarmed works with nature to ensure its flour is not only better for biodiversity, but tastier for you.
Now, Wildfarmed are collaborating with bakeries nationwide, from London to the Lake District, to give away thousands of delicious baked goods throughout March and April. Not only will this support independent and small bakeries, but it aims to introduce customers to regeneratively farmed British produce.
All you have to do is turn up at a participating bakery, and say, “Show me the Wildfarmed”, for a free party, baguette, sourdough loaf or pizza. But be quick, your local bakery may have limited items available!

participating bakeries

  • 23rd March – Beaten by a Whisker, London E17 – Bun
  • 23rd March – Keelham Farm Shop, Skipton North Yorkshire – Keelham Sourdough
  • 24th March – Sourdough Sophia, London N8 – Wholemeal Loaf
  • 30th March – Companio, Manchester – Wildfarmed Baguette
  • 30th March – Good Honest, Nottingham – Pecan Buns & Sourdough
  • 31st March – Holy Grain, Manchester – Baked Goods
  • 31st March – Ozone Coffee, London E2 – Wholemeal Bran Cake
  • 5th April – Orange Bakery, Wallington Oxfordshire – Wholemeal Loaf
  • 7th April – Marmadukes, Sheffield – Baked Goods

dates to be confirmed

  • More? The Artisan Bakery, Lake District – Wholemeal Sourdough
  • Chatsworth Bakehouse, London SE19 – Pizza
  • Layla Bakery, London W10 – Wholemeal Loaf
  • The Long Table, Cotswolds – Baked Goods
  • Bun Dat, South London – Baked Goods
Already embraced by Michelin-starred restaurants, pasta and pizza chefs and leading bakers across the country (highlighted stockists include Manteca, Strakers, Moro, Fallow, Hide, Pizza Pilgrims and Jolene), by simply buying a loaf of Wildfarmed bread, customers can support Wildfarmed’s mission to become the biggest soil regeneration programme on British arable land.
Ever conscious to help their stockists and customers, January ’23 saw Wildfarmed give away £250 dinner tabs, totalling nearly £5000, supporting hospitality in a traditionally tough time of the year, and bringing joy to diners whilst pockets are tight.
You can find out more here. 

The post Get free pastries, baguettes and other baked goods appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/get-free-pastries-baguettes-and-other-baked-goods

Navigating the Complexities of Obtaining Financing for Your Business Expansion

Home Business Magazine Online

When it comes to business expansion, financing is often a critical factor in ensuring that the expansion is successful. While many businesses can finance an expansion from their resources, there are times when additional funding is needed. Understanding the complexities of financing your business expansion, especially through loans, can take time and effort. However, with careful planning and help from a loan comparison service like Rahalaitos.fi, you can find the right solution for your needs.

Determining which type of financing you need

The first step in navigating the complexities of obtaining financing for your business expansion is determining what type of financing you need. Traditional bank loans may be the best option if you need short-term funding, such as cash flow loans or lines of credit. However, if you’re looking for long-term capital investments such as venture capital or angel investments, then alternative sources such as crowdfunding platforms may be more appropriate. Once you’ve identified the type of financing that’s right for your needs, it’s essential to research lenders and compare offers to make sure you get the best deal.

Exploring the types of loans available

There are several types of loans available to finance a business expansion. These include traditional bank loans, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, lines of credit and merchant cash advances. Traditional bank loans are typically the most difficult to obtain due to their stringent requirements and lengthy application process. SBA loans offer more flexible terms and lower interest rates than traditional bank loans but require collateral and a personal guarantee from the borrower. Lines of credit give businesses access to funds when needed without having to reapply for a loan each time additional capital is required.

Choosing the right lender

When looking for a lender to finance your business expansion, there are several factors you should consider including whether or not they are licensed. First and foremost, ensure that the lender is reputable and has a good track record of providing loans to businesses in your industry. It would help if you also looked into the terms of the loan, such as interest rates, repayment periods and any other fees or charges associated with it. Additionally, research the lender’s customer service policies and procedures to ensure they can provide timely assistance if needed. You can opt for a loan comparison service to save time and money by eliminating the need to contact multiple lenders individually.

In conclusion, finding the right financing for your business expansion can be complicated. That is why using a loan brokerage or comparison service to determine which loan is the best fit for your business expansion needs can be highly beneficial.

The post Navigating the Complexities of Obtaining Financing for Your Business Expansion appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/business-start-up/raising-money/navigating-complexities-obtaining-financing-business-expansion/

Smart Ways of Improving Your Employee Benefits Package and Being a Favorite

Home Business Magazine Online

Employee benefits are a hot topic among employers and employees as it boosts employee engagement, productivity, and also the bottom line of a business. If you’re an employee reading this article, one of the first things that should cross your mind is what an employer is doing for you. The DNA of the current-day workforce is changing as their goals and objectives are. There is a definite employee benefits package that employees demand from their employers. While many employees are satiated with what they receive, some are not.

The Vitality of a Good Employee Benefits Package

As employees are eager to locate a reasonable employee benefits package that tailors to their needs, businesses should address the needs by taking into account compliance, finances, and business productivity. In fact, 50% of employees report they would drift on to a new job if they were offered better benefits. This proves that employee benefits are a top priority of employees.

The challenge for the employer is how to move beyond the conventional employee benefits program and develop an all-inclusive program to retain the top talents in a company.

Tips to Enhance Your Employee Benefits Package

According to The Law Offices of Gallner and Pattermann, PC, some workers compensation lawyers receive too many workers’ compensation claim cases where employers are sued for not offering adequate benefits. Here are a few ways in which you can improve your employee benefits package.

  • Discuss matters with your team

The foremost step should be to sit with your team and consult things. You should know what they want in order to deliver it to them successfully. Conduct a group meeting where people share their thoughts about what they want. Is it life insurance or health insurance? Or is it flexible working hours or just work from home? Or do they need the provision of taking out a personal loan? Just listen to their demands to chalk out a plan.

  • Concentrate on work-life balance and employee wellness

Discuss the topic of work-life balance with co-workers one-on-one. Is your organization following an ‘always on’ culture? Managers are the first point of contact for the employees as they are the first ones to rush to for issues like work stress, overwork, or anxiety. Most managers are not able to handle this type of communication. Hence, it is necessary to train the managers, especially the senior ones so that they can offer support to people suffering from mental health problems.

  • Explore your options for unique employee benefits

What are the factors that distinguish you as a company that offers proper retirement and healthcare benefits? With the constant evolution of the workforce, you should also arm your employees with benefits that are advantageous for them and you. So, develop a unique employee benefits package that includes consulting and financial planning services. Remember that the more confident your employees are in managing their finances, the more productive they will be at work.

  • Create a positive work environment

A great work culture can lead to employee happiness. Here are a few tips to improve the workplace culture:

  • Being interested in, caring for, and being obligated as friends
  • Willing to forgive mistakes, and avoid blaming each other
  • Giving each other assistance, respect, and kindness
  • Trying to inspire each other while at work
  • Emphasizing the importance of work
  • Showing gratitude, respect, trust, and integrity

Therefore, if you’re the owner of an organization, try your best to take care of your employees by offering them employee benefits. You may get the help of an advisor if you need legal assistance.

The post Smart Ways of Improving Your Employee Benefits Package and Being a Favorite appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/management/employees/smart-ways-improving-employee-benefits-package-being-favorite/

PPC is a tough game – you have to accept it

To get results from paid search, you’ll need to deliver better campaigns and increase your bids, which drives costs up.

However, increasing your bids won’t always mean more clicks. Eventually, you’ll reach a point where increased bids will only return little to no gain.

This is the law of diminishing returns at play. When running PPC campaigns, you are contending with this concept and many other factors outside your control.

In this article, we’ll explore the law of diminishing returns and various factors making paid search even more demanding today. This will help you set better expectations when assessing your PPC performance.

The law of diminishing returns

In economics, the law of diminishing returns states that as an organization increases its investment in a specific area, the rate of profit generated by that investment will eventually reach a point where it cannot continue to rise, assuming that all other variables remain constant. 

For this reason, additional investment in that area will result in a decreased rate of return. At a certain stage of expansion, the return on investment that applies to additional units produced (marginal ROI) reaches a negative value.

Beyond this point, the total outcome will start declining. Even if it remains positive, it is not as high as the maximum.

Law of diminishing returns

This principle highlights the importance of finding the optimal level of investment to maximize the overall profit. The “sweet spot” is where the marginal ROI changes from positive to negative, specifically where the marginal return equals zero.

As every resource is limited, we observe that the supply shows decreasing responsiveness to the price change, and eventually does not matter how high the price is. The supply won’t be higher. This phenomenon is described as the law of diminishing elasticity.

Price elasticity (E) measures the responsiveness of the demand or supply to a change in the price of a good or service. It is calculated as the percentage change in the quantity of a good or service demanded or supplied in response to a percentage change in its price. 

Prce elasticity
Sometimes the symbol of increase “∆” is replaced by “d” to indicate that it refers to a small change.

If the price elasticity is greater than one, the demand or supply is said to be elastic, meaning that a slight change in price leads to a relatively larger change in the demand or supply. If the price elasticity is less than one, the demand or supply is said to be inelastic. 

Get the daily newsletter search marketers rely on.

<input type="hidden" name="utmMedium" value="“>
<input type="hidden" name="utmCampaign" value="“>
<input type="hidden" name="utmSource" value="“>
<input type="hidden" name="utmContent" value="“>
<input type="hidden" name="pageLink" value="“>
<input type="hidden" name="ipAddress" value="“>

Processing…Please wait.

See terms.

function getCookie(cname) {
let name = cname + “=”;
let decodedCookie = decodeURIComponent(document.cookie);
let ca = decodedCookie.split(‘;’);
for(let i = 0; i <ca.length; i++) {
let c = ca[i];
while (c.charAt(0) == ' ') {
c = c.substring(1);
}
if (c.indexOf(name) == 0) {
return c.substring(name.length, c.length);
}
}
return "";
}
document.getElementById('munchkinCookieInline').value = getCookie('_mkto_trk');

Why are CPCs so high?

The laws of diminishing returns and elasticity apply to advertising.

To generate more traffic and conversions through PPC, you have to be more aggressive and competitive, increasing bids and, in turn, accepting higher conversion costs.

Increasing cost per click (CPC), however, leads to smaller and smaller increases in traffic. Eventually, you’ll reach a point when there’s no chance to get more traffic from a specific keyword (i.e., if the ad ranks #1 for all searches with 100% impression share). 

PPC rising clicks and CPCs

The law on diminishing returns is also reflected in the total budget. You can see how these costs can change in the Google Ads Performance Planner, as shown in the illustration below.

Google Ads Performance Planner

In most cases, the relationship will be fairly straightforward for campaigns that are not under or overinvested. To get 10% more traffic, you need to accept a ~10% higher conversion cost or a ~10% lower return on ad spend (ROAS).

This means that Google’s typical price elasticity of supply (the relative ratio of traffic increase to CPC increase) is 1.

Why is this the case? If a vendor increases their margin by 10% and loses 20% of their customers, this operation will result in a loss, and prices will likely be too high.

If a 10% increase in margin only causes 5% of customers to leave, the seller will increase their profits, and previous prices were too low.

The point at which the price is most optimal for the seller is where a 10% increase in margin results in a 10% decrease in the sales volume, making the change neutral for profits. In other words, the sales profits are highest if the price elasticity of demand is 1.

For Google, the sales margin virtually equals advertising revenue because the variable costs of the ad impression and click are negligible.

To maximize their profits, they should maintain a price elasticity of 1 – which explains how the auction algorithm works and why this regularity exists on the market.

Why does it cost so much?

In PPC, the natural consequence of the law of diminishing returns is a non-linear increase in budget to scale the campaign.

With elasticity E=1, which is typical for the market, doubling the traffic and sales volume is associated with doubling the CPC, resulting in a four-fold increase in budget.

PPC increased budget

At other levels of elasticity, these proportions will be different. But it is unrealistic to think that doubling the budget will lead to doubling sales in a given channel.

Marketing and business plans often reflect such expectations, only to fall through later. Expansion is costly, and the truth is even more bitter than this. 

Google and Meta are here to do business

The cost of acquiring an additional click (i.e., the marginal cost per click or CPCm) is almost always higher than the actual CPC. By definition:

Marginal CPC

Also, by definition, the elasticity: 

Elasticity

Therefore:

Elasticity

It means that at E=1, buying additional clicks is twice more expensive than the current cost per click. The same calculations apply to Effective Revenue Share (ERS = Cost / Revenue)

Effective revenue share

Advertisers benefit from investing in advertising as long as the marginal cost is lower than their profit margin (i.e., they get additional profit through advertising).

When the marginal effective revenue share reaches ERSm=1, advertising costs consume the entire revenue. Further, expansion will have negative marginal revenue and the total revenue will start to decrease. Thus, the campaign generates maximum total profit when:

ERSm

That is:

ERS

As ROAS = 1/ERS = ROI + 1, this formula can be written as ROAS = 1 + 1/E or ROI = 1/E. 

A simple formula can define the areas of under and overinvestment and the optimum level.

Law of diminishing returns in PPC

If E = 1 (the typical market elasticity), the maximum total profits from advertising occur when ROI = 100% or ERS = 0.5. 

It means that, on average, advertisers increase their profits until they spend 50% of their profit (without considering fixed costs) on PPC ads. 

Of course, particular advertisers who advertise more or less aggressively may be in a different area of elasticity than E=1. Therefore, the ERS/ROAS/ROI maximizing advertiser profits will be higher or lower. 

For every $1 invested in Google search, U.S. companies earn $2. This is how Google wants to see it, but it also means that companies give half their profits to these tech giants.

There’s no way around it

The laws of economics and the free market put businesses in a situation where Google, Meta and other ad platforms get half their sales margin before fixed cost.

Whether we like it or not, these are the rules of advertising. Understanding how the system works makes it easier to create realistic expansion plans and avoid disappointments.

The post PPC is a tough game – you have to accept it appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/ppc-tough-game-394477