What Are the Benefits of Using an E-Signature API?

Home Business Magazine Online

Electronic signatures (e-signatures) are the new normal in recent years, which is great news for everyone involved. Now, e-signatures are considered just as reliable as traditional, wet signatures, and rightly so. Because they use computer algorithms to authenticate signatories and assure the integrity of signed documents, some forms of e-signatures are considered legally binding and HIPAA-compliant.

What Is an E-Signature API?

Most modern Americans have electronically signed at least a few documents, but not all of them are familiar with using an e-signature API. Short for application programming interface, an API is a subscription-based web service that allows companies to request signatures and download completed documents securely online.

The Benefits of E-Signature API Use

The advantages of e-signatures, more generally, are rarely in question. Anyone who has ever tried this alternative to the in-person signing of documents knows the process is much easier and quicker. It’s also more secure and less harmful to the environment.

For most companies, the question isn’t whether to implement e-signature solutions. It’s what technology to use to accomplish that goal. Read on to find out about the benefits of e-signature APIs to find out why they may be the best option.

Minimal Coding Required

APIs are fully programmable, but all of the primary functionality has already been coded into them. This fact makes it easy for developers to embed e-signature functionality into a company’s applications using simple programming languages. Developers can boost the usefulness of just about any type of document-handling software by integrating an e-signature API.

Easy Document Management

E-signature APIs don’t just make it easier to collect legally binding digital signatures. They also simplify the entire document-handling process. Subscribers can have access to status updates, be prompted with reminders when signatures are due, and take advantage of all kinds of powerful features.

Compliance with Industry Regulations

High-quality e-signature APIs will be compliant with even the strictest industry regulations, including HIPAA. Not all will pass the healthcare industry’s strict regulatory requirements, though. Those that do provide not just end-to-end encryption and other advanced security features to protect data both in transit and at rest. They also provide regulation-compliant audit trails.

Cost Effectiveness

The small cost of integrating e-signatures into a company’s software applications pales in comparison to the savings associated with implementing effective e-signature solutions. Businesses won’t just save on printing and document storage costs. They’ll also benefit from streamlined workflows and improved efficiency. In addition, reputable companies typically offer different packages of API access, including discounts for customers that process greater amounts of signatures.

Customer Satisfaction

Customer satisfaction tops just about every organization’s priorities list. These days, consumers expect maximum convenience in all areas of their lives, including document signing. With a well-designed e-signature API, businesses can provide a smooth signing experience. This improves customer satisfaction while simultaneously making employees’ lives easier.

It’s Time to Make the Switch

For businesses that have yet to embrace e-signature solutions, the time has come to make a change. Other organizations across the world have already adopted this safe, convenient, and efficient alternative to collecting wet signatures. In addition, consumers have come to expect it as an option. All it takes to make the switch is finding a reputable partner that can provide regulation-compliant e-signature APIs and detailed instructions on how to integrate them into a company’s current software systems.

The post What Are the Benefits of Using an E-Signature API? appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/home-office/computers-and-software/benefits-using-e-signature-api/

10 Marketing Tools to Boost Your Online Advertising Results

Home Business Magazine Online

If you’re running a pay-per-click (PPC) campaign for your home business, then you know how important it is to get the most out of your budget. To do this, you need to use the right tools.

In our previous articles we offered you tips on advertising networks you should try beyond Google Ads and ways to run successful campaigns on Google Ads.

In this article, we’re providing you with our best marketing tools that you should be considering to help you maximize your advertising results.

Table of Contents

  1. Unbounce
  2. Tenscores
  3. Funnels.io
  4. Fraud Blocker
  5. Opteo
  6. SpyFu
  7. ClickFunnels
  8. WordStream
  9. Moat
  10. Optimizer

1. Unbounce

PPC isn’t just about running ad campaigns. It’s ensuring the traffic you’re paying for converts at the highest levels.

Unbounce is an incredible tool that helps you build powerful and high-converting landing pages in just a few minutes.

They provide nearly 100 landing page templates to choose from and each one is optimized to capture a lead or convert to a sale. You can edit those pages with a drag-and-drop format (no coding skills needed!) and their unlimited color, font, and image options make it easy to create branded messages that you can quickly publish to your custom web domain.

You can A/B test each of your landing pages to maximize your ROI or you can use Unbounce’s Smart Traffic where your visitors are automatically matched to the best-fit landing pages.

Price: $90/mo – $225/mo

2. Tenscores

One of the best ways to save money on your Google Ads campaigns is to make sure your “Quality Score” is high. This score consists of several factors, such as keyword relevance, and it plays a major part in determining the price you pay over other competitors for a specific search keyword.

Tenscores is a PPC tool that analyzes your Quality Score and provides clear recommendations on how to improve it. It identifies areas where you may be wasting money due to poor quality scores and it provides a thorough analysis of the history of your quality score to help you identify trends that you may not see otherwise.

Price: $25/mo – $999/mo

3. Funnel.io

Funnel is a data management tool that helps you get your data where you need it, when you need it. With Funnel, you can easily collect and centralize data from all your various marketing channels, then use that data to make informed decisions about your marketing campaigns.

Funnel also allows you to track your campaign performance in real-time, so you can identify and fix any issues as they arise. You’ll never have to worry about manually cleaning or preparing your data again once you’ve used Funnel because it automatically combines everything together.

Some of the key features of Funnel include:

  • Data collection and centralization from all marketing channels;
  • Real-time campaign performance tracking;
  • Automatic data cleansing and preparation; and
  • Detailed campaign reports and insights.

Price: $399/mo – $1,999/mo

4. Fraud Blocker

Fraud Blocker is a click fraud protection tool that helps you to protect your online ad campaigns against click fraud. It does this by detecting and blocking IP addresses that are known to be involved in fraudulent activities. Additionally, Fraud Blocker also monitors your campaigns for suspicious activity and flags any potential threats.

Some of the key features of Fraud Blocker include:

  • Best-in-class click fraud detection (such as device fingerprinting, IP monitoring, VPN detection and more);
  • Fraud scoring;
  • Automatic IP blocking;
  • Direct integration with Google Ads;
  • Customizable detection rules; and
  • Easy management of subscription and teams.

This tool provides complete protection against common click frauds like bot traffic, click injections, click farms, and fake clicks from competitors and vengeful customers. Click fraud is a serious issue and click fraud losses are estimated to reach $100 billion per year by 2023, according to Juniper Research.

Price: $39/mo for their Starter plan, $59+/mo for their Pro plan

5. Opteo

Opteo is a PPC tool that can simplify your Google Ads campaigns. It uses data-driven insights to suggest improvements to your ads, which you can implement with just a click. Additionally, Opteo brings all of your performance metrics into one central dashboard, so you can easily track your ad performance. Some of the key features of Opteo include:

  • Insights based on your conversion data and targets;
  • Suggestions for improving your ads;
  • Implementation of improvements with one click;
  • Centralized dashboard for tracking ad performance;
  • Detailed reporting and analysis; and
  • Intuitive interface.

Price: $99/mo – $799/mo

6. SpyFu

SpyFu is a PPC tool that provides keyword suggestions, spying on competitor’s ad activity, and AdWords templates. The templates can be imported into an AdWords account and used without modification. All relevant keywords for each ad group are grouped together. This makes it easy to add branded or product keywords.

The features of SpyFu are:

  • Analyze your competitor’s ad spend and paid keywords history.
  • Identify who else is bidding on your chosen keywords.
  • Get smart keyword suggestions that will help improve your chances of success.
  • Automatically organizing keywords into ads groups makes the process less daunting.
  • Using successful copies from the past can give you some guidance and ideas for yours.
  • Gain intelligent bidding advice to make sure you’re making the best decisions.

Price: $39/M – $299/M

7. ClickFunnels.com

ClickFunnels is similar to Unbounce (noted at #1 above) in that you can build and publish high-converting landing pages using simple, drag-and-drop functionality and you can evaluate their success with A/B testing. However Clickfunnels, takes it a step further and offers payment gateways, email, SMS and affiliate tools.

These added features provide a holistic, lifecycle marketing program to ensure your visitors aren’t just captured, but also are pushed towards a sale with automated reminder messaging. It costs a bit more than Unbounce but the product offering is much greater.

Price: $97/mo – $297/mo

8. Wordstream

Wordstream is one of the older and most popular PPC management tools in the space. They offer a suite of tools that can help you with every aspect of your campaign, from keyword research to ad creation to bid management. And it does all of this in one easy-to-use platform.

One of the most popular features of Wordstream is their free Google Ads Performance Grader. This tool gives you a detailed look at how your campaign is performing, including which keywords are driving clicks and conversions and which ads are getting the most impressions. This information can be incredibly valuable in fine-tuning your campaign for better results.

Price: Performance Grader is free, however full-featured plans are based on your monthly ad spend and start around 10%.

9. Moat

Want to see what display ad creative your competitors are running?

Moat is an excellent tool that quickly displays most (if not all) of the display ads your competitors may be running. It also keeps a record of older ads and shows the entire history in their database.

In 2017 Moat was acquired by Oracle and, as a result, it expanded its product offering significantly to include a rich suite of analytics tools. The competitive ad search is still free, but there are many other features now offered for a premium fee.

Price: Free to search with additional features available for premium plans.

10. Optmyzr

Optmyzr is a PPC tool that automates the optimization of your ads with the help of machine learning. Advertisers can manage both Bing ads and AdWords from the platform. Some of its key features include:

  • Adding or Eliminating Keywords
  • Adjusting Placement on Display Networks
  • Changing Bids
  • Paid Keyword Optimization
  • Bid Rules
  • Ad Creation and Editing
  • Scenario Planning
  • Budget Execution & Monitoring
  • Advanced Targeting Options
  • Ad and Conversion Tracking

Price: Starts at $208/mo

Conclusion

PPC should be a critical part of your advertising efforts. By continually optimizing those campaigns using some of the tools above, you can ensure that you’re maximizing your sales while minimizing your waste.

The post 10 Marketing Tools to Boost Your Online Advertising Results appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/marketing/advertising/10-marketing-tools-boost-online-advertising-results/

As its announced that UK consumers are hunting out prize promotions to ease the cost of living crisis, we reveal The Experts Guide to Winning Prizes

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New research has found that the public are increasingly turning to winning prizes as a solution to the current financial situation. Traditional wins like fancy holidays, fashion items or even tickets to the next World Cup are out; these days it’s prizes that help ease the financial burden of day-to-day life, like money towards energy, internet, mortgage payments & grocery shop bills that people want to win.

A new survey, by prize promotion experts PromoVeritas found that:

  • We’re a nation of ‘compers’; 77% of us have entered a prize draw in the last year
  • 23% want to win their bills paid or grocery prizes to help ease the cost of living
  • 44% are more likely to want to win lower value prizes, discounts and groceries than pre Covid. This figure is highest in Scotland (61%)
  • #BeKind; Gen Z’s most favoured prize is a charity donation (31%) with a massive 83% demanding environmentally friendly prizes (compared to 60% average)
  • Cash is still king! Almost half (42%) list it as the most sought after prize
  • Even top earners say “Give me the cash!”; it was the most coveted prize for those earning £70K plus (73%)
  • More people are winning! 55% have won this year compared to 41% in 2019
  • Top earners are most likely to enter prize promotions
  • 41% more likely to turn to their loyalty programmes than six months ago

So, has this inspired you to hunt out some prize promotions that might help make your lives just that tiny bit easier? Money Magpie asked the team at PromoVeritas, an organisation with expert knowledge on everything to do with prize promotions, for some insider tips.

Brand

Here’s The Experts Guide to Winning Prizes…

  • For cash prizes… If you’re looking for cash prizes keep your eyes peeled for microsite entry pages as they are usually the best way to enter, and you can often do it multiple times giving yourself the best chance of winning. Of course please do check the terms and conditions for entry requirements, you don’t want to be disqualified for not correctly following the entry criteria and entering too many times!
  • For bigger prizes… Keep a look out for instant win and competition promotions, these may take more time to enter or come with a lower chance of winning but the pay-out is usually a lot higher and more bespoke. Brands often want to turn these into an experience that they can showcase and talk about on their websites or social media (so be prepared to perhaps be part of this story!)
  • For easy wins…. You can find prize promotions where you have to follow a URL on the brands website, or from packaging on a product These usually just involve handing over your email address and sometimes a small amount of personal information (name, number, etc). This makes then very quick to enter, 2-3 mins max and for anyone who wants to enter on a passing whim. Maybe get hunting in the aisles for competitions on products next time you’re shopping!
  • Get socially minded… We’d include social media promotions in with the ‘no hassle’ group. Very often they just require commenting on a post and following the brand. They’re nice, simple and quick for anyone to do. Lots of brands use them as a way to boost their following, so if a new shop, salon, brand or restaurant is launching its always worth checking out their Instagram or Twitter accounts for any promotions that could help you win something lovely. Make sure you follow all the brands you’re a fan of, they’re really good at supporting their loyal audience, so you often find they will be giving any bespoke prizes, often more tailored to their audience – and you!
  • Loyalty pays off…. Yes, loyalty programmes are a great way to save money in your favourite supermarkets (Nectar, Clubcard etc), plus lots of other brands are now starting up loyalty schemes (Yeokens, O2 ect) that may help consumers to gain discounts and money off in other areas of their day to day lives. It might seem like a hassle signing up but they are always worth checking out
  • Where can you go to find the best prize promotions? There are some really great resources to find the latest promotions, such as ‘Compers News’ and a website called SuperLuckyMe by the well-known comper Di Coke. Check them out.
  • Remember, remember…. Keep a log of the competitions you’ve entered – at PromoVeritas we often have winners believe they are being scammed when we notify them, and don’t reply therefore forfeiting their prize. Making sure you’re aware of prize promotions you’ve entered takes away that layer of worry when someone contacts you
  • If you do get a call, and you can’t remember entering, ask who the brand is and if so who is fulfilling the competition. In our case, we have a website with our credentials which can be cross checked with the terms and conditions (found at the point of entry). All organisations doing the fulfilment should have the same
  • How not to get scammed…. Make sure to only follow links from trusted sources – social media channels, packaging and the brands own website. If you receive an email from an organisation pushing a promotion you should ALWAYS make sure to check the address it’s being sent from, if it doesn’t look legitimate or doesn’t fit with the way the brand talks about itself, don’t click through any links. If you’re still unsure visit the company’s website directly – it’s always worth doing this
  • Finally, have a bit of fun…. Prize promotions shouldn’t cause you hassle, and if they are totally free to enter they can be a fun way to try and win yourself something nice. Something we all need at the moment!

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

The post As its announced that UK consumers are hunting out prize promotions to ease the cost of living crisis, we reveal The Experts Guide to Winning Prizes appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/as-its-announced-that-uk-consumers-are-hunting-out-prize-promotions-to-ease-the-cost-of-living-crisis-we-reveal-the-experts-guide-to-winning-prizes

What Is Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)?

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Enterprise Resource Planning, or ERP, is a business management software that allows companies to manage their resources and operations. It integrates all aspects of a company, such as accounting, sales, marketing, production, and inventory. This allows businesses to have more streamlined and efficient operations.

From various surveys, it has been estimated that over 70% of businesses have implemented or are implementing an ERP system. This number expects to grow as more and more companies realize the benefits of this system.

How Does Your Business Benefit with ERP?

Businesses can use ERP to their advantages in several ways. One way is that companies can better understand their customers and what they need or want. This customer relationship management (CRM) capability gives businesses the ability to provide better customer service and support and improve sales and marketing efforts.

Another way businesses can benefit from ERP is by having greater visibility into their operations. This allows businesses to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies and make the necessary changes to improve performance.

Additionally, ERP allows companies to make better decisions by providing real-time data and analytics. This information can be used to improve strategic planning and execution.

ERP also helps businesses save money. By automating tasks and processes, businesses can reduce their labor costs. Additionally, it can help enterprises manage their inventory more effectively, leading to reduced inventory levels and associated costs. With the help of an ERP implementation consultant, businesses can maximize the benefits of ERP and ensure a successful implementation.

Benefits

★ Boosting Productivity and Accuracy

One of the main benefits of ERP is boosting productivity and accuracy across all departments and facets of the business. When everyone uses the same system, it becomes easier for different departments to collaborate and communicate.

There is no need to waste time converting or transferring data from one format to another. With ERP, businesses can have a single source of truth that everyone in their organizations can trust. This leads to fewer mistakes and improved decision-making.

Inventory management is one area where businesses can significantly improve productivity and accuracy. With ERP, companies can track their inventory in real-time, which helps them avoid stock-outs and overstocking. This leads to better utilization of resources and improved customer satisfaction levels.

★ Boosting Efficiency and Reducing Costs

In addition to boosting productivity, ERP can also help businesses increase efficiency and reduce costs. By automating tasks and processes, businesses can eliminate the need for manual data entry, saving significant time and money.

ERP can also help businesses manage their inventory more effectively, reducing inventory levels and associated costs. Additionally, it allows companies to make better decisions by providing real-time data and analytics. This information can be used to improve strategic planning and execution.

★ Easy Reporting

Reports and analytics are vital parts of any business. With ERP, companies can generate reports quickly and easily. This information can improve decision-making, strategic planning, and execution.

ERP also allows businesses to track their progress and performance over time. This information can be used to identify areas of improvement and make necessary changes.

★ Improved Customer Service and Support

Another benefit of ERP is that it helps businesses improve their customer service and support. With ERP, companies can better understand their customers and what they need or want. This customer relationship management (CRM) capability gives businesses the ability to provide better customer service and support and improve sales and marketing efforts.

★ Collaborative Task Management

ERP systems also provide businesses with the ability to manage tasks collaboratively. This means that different departments can work together on projects and tasks, which can lead to improved communication and collaboration.

When everyone uses the same system, it becomes easier for different departments to collaborate and communicate. This leads to fewer mistakes and improved decision-making.

Are There Drawbacks with ERPs?

Like any business software, there are some potential drawbacks of ERP that companies should be aware of. One potential drawback is that ERP systems can be complex and require significant training for users. Additionally, these systems often require a high up-front investment, which may not be feasible for all businesses.

Another potential drawback is that because ERP integrates all aspects of a company’s operation, it can be challenging to change the system without impacting other business areas. This can make it difficult to customize an ERP system to fit a company’s specific needs.

Despite these potential drawbacks, ERP systems offer many benefits that can help businesses improve their operations and bottom lines. ERP can be a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes when implemented correctly.

Different Types of ERP Systems

There are a few different types of ERP systems, each designed to fit the specific needs of different businesses. The three main types of ERP systems are on-premise, cloud-based, and hybrid.

➔ On-Premise

On-premise ERP systems are installed and run on a company’s servers. This system offers the most control and customization. However, it can be more expensive and require more IT resources for upkeep.

➔ Cloud-Based

Cloud-based ERP systems are hosted by the software vendor and accessed by users via the internet. This type of system is typically less expensive and easier to maintain than on-premise systems. However, it may have fewer customization options.

➔ Hybrid

Hybrid ERP systems are a combination of on-premise and cloud-based systems. This system offers the best of both worlds, but it can be more complex to implement and maintain.

Final Words

Enterprise Resource Planning can be a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes. It offers many benefits, including easy reporting, improved customer service and support, and collaborative task management.

There are a few different types of Enterprise Resource Planning systems, each designed to fit the specific needs of diverse businesses. When choosing an ERP system, it is essential to consider the particular needs of your business to ensure that you select the right system for your company.

The post What Is Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)? appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/home-office/computers-and-software/enterprise-resource-planning-erp/

Pedestrian Safety Measures That Can Help You Avoid Fatal Accidents

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Did you know that states like Las Vegas have the highest rates of pedestrian accidents in the US? It is alarming to know that these places have more than 650 pedestrian accidents every year. Since they don’t have seatbelts or a vehicle to protect them, pedestrian accidents can get severe and at times, even fatal.

It is vital to remember that there are numerous people who use the roads and hence we should work together and put in our best efforts to keep the roads safe for all. When you are aware of the steps that you need to take in order to avoid pedestrian accidents, you can protect yourself and others. Here are the tips shared by the best Pedestrian Accident lawyers to guarantee safety.

Everyone is a pedestrian at some point in time

We can’t forget the fact that the person who is sitting behind the driving wheel in the morning is a pedestrian by evening. Still, it is shocking to note that a pedestrian gets killed every 81 minutes in traffic accidents in the year 2021.

Whenever drivers maintain the safe speed level and also follow a few other safe driving measures that are created for pedestrians, this reduces the chances of accidents.

Basic safety tips for drivers

  • While driving your car, always watch out for pedestrians everywhere.
  • In case you are driving in a hard-to-see condition or a poor weather condition, be extra cautious about pedestrians.
  • Be ready to stop or slow down your vehicle while turning or approaching a crosswalk.
  • When there is a crosswalk in front of you, stop at a well-maintained distance so that you can let other vehicles do the same too.
  • Don’t ever try to cross vehicles or other people at a crosswalk. There might be people around you who are trying to cross the road.
  • Don’t drive when you are drunk.
  • Be extra careful when your backing your car and watch out for pedestrians.
  • Make sure you follow the speed limit when you drive in school zones and neighborhood areas where there are children running around.

Safety walking tips for pedestrians

  • Obey the rules, signs, and signals on the road.
  • Whenever you find sidewalks, walk on them.
  • In case there is no sidewalk, make sure you walk facing the traffic and as far from traffic as you can.
  • When you find no intersection or crosswalk, try to look for a well-lit area from where you can get the best view of the traffic. Wait for some time for the traffic to move so that you can cross the road safely.
  • Stay away from drugs and alcohol while walking as that can impair your sense of judgment and your abilities.
  • Considered walking the healthiest form of transportation. Get up and get walking.

So, now that you know how to avoid pedestrian accidents, follow the steps mentioned above. In case of an accident, don’t hesitate to seek the help of a personal injury lawyer.

The post Pedestrian Safety Measures That Can Help You Avoid Fatal Accidents appeared first on Home Business Magazine.

Original source: https://homebusinessmag.com/lifestyles/success-lifestyles/pedestrian-safety-measures-help-avoid-fatal-accidents/

Facebook has rolled out a new Pages experience

Facebook has rolled out a new Pages experience they say is ideal for small and medium-sized businesses to build connections with customers and other businesses.

The new Pages layout. The new Pages experience has a more “streamlined layout, easier navigation between your personal profile and business pages, a Professional Dashboard to manage all of your activities quickly in one central location and access to a dedicated Feed to more seamlessly interact with people on Facebook as your business.”

Switching between your business and personal profile can be done by tapping or holding down the top right menu icon.

comment moderation tools
Composer

Getting the most out of your Pages. Facebook lays out a few tips to help businesses get the most out of their Pages experience. Let’s dive in.

1. Setting up for success. Complete your basic business profile by adding a profile and cover photo, a description of your business, and contact details like your website, phone number, address and business hours.

Facebook also suggests customizing your page with action buttons and set Page Admins to help you manage it.

2. Grow your audience. Invite friends, family, and existing customers to like your page, post often, and respond to comments to help grow connections.

3. Create better content. Use trending hashtags to get your content discovered by a new and relevant audience. You can also share posts in up to 3 groups and link your Instagram to cross-share to your followers on Instagram. You can also schedule your posts by using the Composer feature.

4. Engage your community. Facebook encourages businesses to engage with the community by joining in on conversations within the business feed and commenting on posts as your page to help build experiences.

5. Safety and security tips. The following safety and security tips can help keep your page secure.

  • Set up 2-Factor authentication
  • Use comment moderation tools
  • Take action on hacked accounts

Dig deeper. You can read the entire announcement from Meta and get more tips on growing your Facebook page here.

Why we care. Love it or hate it, Facebook is still a valuable tool for businesses today. Make sure you’re taking advantage of all of the tools and features available on your page and ensure all of your information is correct and up to date so potential customers can find you.

The post Facebook has rolled out a new Pages experience appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/facebook-has-rolled-out-a-new-pages-experience-388644

Alexa users claim Amazon is using voice recordings to target ads

Alexa users are suing Amazon over claims that the voice assistant app is targeting users with ads relevant to private recordings of users’ conversations.

The central complaint. The main complaint of Alexa users is that the voice assistant is wrongly using voice recordings captured by Alexa to target ads.

“The central theory of this lawsuit is that Amazon uses Alexa voice recordings (i.e., the captured sound of a user’s voice) to serve interest-based ads to that user. In their complaint, plaintiffs conspicuously never allege facts showing that Amazon uses Alexa recordings to serve interest-based ads (because they have no good-faith basis for that allegation),” the company adds. “The complaint instead uses the intentionally vague term ‘voice data’ for the notion that certain transaction data resulting from Alexa interactions is sometimes used for advertising. Yes, it is, and Amazon widely and clearly discloses that fact.”

U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein

The plaintiff’s suit. Ohio resident James Gray and Massachusetts resident Scott Horton brought the class-action complaint against Amazon for allegedly using “Alexa-collected voice data” for ad targeting. They raised several claims, including that Amazon violated users’ privacy, and that it engaged in misleading and unfair conduct.

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What Amazon says. Amazon said “it “is not in the business of selling data,” and doesn’t share Alexa requests with ad networks.

The company added: “Similar to what you’d experience if you made a purchase on Amazon.com or requested a song through Amazon Music, if you ask Alexa to order paper towels or to play a song on Amazon Music, the record of that purchase or song play may inform relevant ads shown on Amazon or other sites where Amazon places ads.”

Amazon urged judge Rothstein to dismiss the lawsuit claiming that even if the allegations were true, there wouldn’t be any proof that the company sed voice recordings for ad purposes.

Amazon also said “If a customer buys dog toys from Amazon, that fact can be used to generate interest-based ads, regardless of whether the customer ordered by typing on amazon.com or speaking a voice command to an Alexa-enabled device,” the company wrote. “But records of the customer’s transactions, whatever the input medium, are different from Alexa voice recordings or transcripts themselves.”

They added “When a customer uses a physical keyboard to make a purchase on amazon.com, the data from that transaction is not ‘derived from’ the customer’s typing, nor would anyone argue that Amazon is ‘using’ that person’s keystrokes,” Amazon argues. “Similarly, if someone types a purchase command into the Alexa app, the transaction data associated with that command is captured and might be used for advertising (as Amazon widely discloses).”

Why we care. With cookies disappearing in 2024, privacy is at the forefront of ad platforms and advertisers’ strategies to deliver relevant ads to an audience that may or may not become harder to reach. But Amazon’s blatant disregard for users’ personal space and private conversations goes beyond cookies and into a realm that’s just plain invasive.

I’ll be curious to see if Amazon is held liable for these claims and what the company does to remedy the situation as users become more aware, and intolerant of privacy abuse.

The post Alexa users claim Amazon is using voice recordings to target ads appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/alexa-users-claim-amazon-is-using-voice-recordings-to-target-ads-388655

MONEY GIVEAWAY: Get Your Hands on Some Free Money

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Money Giveaway: The Cost of Living Crisis is really getting people down now. With a record number of people taking on second jobs and people frantically googling “quick ways to make cash” MoneyMagpie have decided to put their hand in their own pocket and offer some help to their readers. 

MoneyMagpie asked their readers on Instagram, “would a fiver make any difference to your monthly income” and 78 per cent said that, “yes”, it would. 

Therefore we are offering twenty readers £5. There are no strings attached at all. Simply comment on the article with what you would spend the fiver on, and then in two weeks, twenty people will be selected to win the money. 

MoneyMagpie founder Jasmine Birtles says, “It really doesn’t feel much in the greater scheme of things, but if it helps a few people then we are more than happy to step in. We have had a record number of people writing in and asking us how to access quick cash, and in reality there aren’t many ways that are safe to the consumer. Therefore we just wanted to offer them a chance. We are strongly against gambling so didn’t want our readers to go there, therefore it’s simply cash.”

So, as stated above, for your chance to get your hands on a fiver, just answer “what would you spend an extra fiver on this month?” in the comments below. The comments will close on Oct 19 at 6pm. 

We will notify the winners on Oct 21 and add the names to the article. 

Good luck. We look forward to hearing your answers. 

 

The post MONEY GIVEAWAY: Get Your Hands on Some Free Money appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/money-giveaway-get-your-hands-on-some-free-money

Make money selling your old toilet rolls

Reading Time: 4 mins

Nope, we’re not even joking about this! In fact, there are truly loads of people out there just dying to get their hands on your old toilet rolls.

We did a little investigation into this rising money-making trend and gathered some important information to help you make an extra buck or two.

 

Why old toilet rolls?

Toilet roll and empty tubes

While most of us might toss the little brown tube at the end of the toilet roll into the recycling bin without a second thought, a lot of people actually treasure them for the infinite DIY possibilities they hold.

Here are just a few of their most popular uses:

  • Home-made Christmas cracker inner tubes
  • The basis for napkin holders
  • Seed-coated bird feeders
  • Or, if you pop some soil and a seed or two inside, they make for great propagating tubes

The thing is, most people would need more toilet rolls than they can produce to see a project through, and therefore welcome the opportunity to invest in a few extra wherever they can.

 

Where to sell?

Pile of toilet roll tubes

So, where do they automatically turn?

eBay

Good old eBay, of course! Where else?

Astoundingly, a search for ‘toilet roll tube’ delivers no less than 179 results.

Most of the listings come as bulk packs of between 10 and 150 rolls each and generally go for between £2 and £19, including postage.

Gumtree

You could also list your toilet rolls on Gumtree simultaneously to reach a wider audience. While eBay is hugely popular among a younger demographic, Gumtree reaches 16 million monthly unique visitors, roughly a third of the UK‘s adult online population.

Plus, with only 6 results showing up in the ‘toilet roll tube’ search, the market isn’t nearly as saturated as on eBay.

Facebook groups

Apart from these e-commerce sites, you could even try selling your old toilet rolls on one of Facebook’s many local used goods groups or even on a community dedicated to arts and crafts.

This way, you might even make a connection with a regular buyer to whom you can sell toilet rolls every few months.

 

How much can you make?

Woman looking at cash thoughtfully

Well, to put it quite plainly… not much at all. However, for the little effort that goes into gathering the rolls, storing them and sending them off, an average of £7 a pop (for 50 rolls) isn’t a bad bit of pocket money.

In fact, if you’ve been trying to save up for something small (maybe a weekend away or a specific item of clothing), this could be a great way to generate some income dedicated to that cause alone.

 

Tips for making money from your old toilet rolls

Empty toilet roll

Before you go tearing through your current toilet roll with dollar signs in your eyes, you might want to consider a few of the following tips:

Sell in bulk

Instead of trying to get rid of rolls one by one, it makes a lot more sense to sell them in sets of between 20 and 150. How many you choose to sell in one go is completely up to you, but 50 seems like a good, round number to start off with.

Have a few extra in stock

Once you’ve gathered your first 50 rolls, we know you’ll want to rush to eBay to get them listed. However, remain patient for a little longer and gather about four times the amount you’ve decided to sell. This way, you can post four different listings and make a little more cash in one go.

Make it a team effort

Most people aren’t that attached to their toilet rolls, so you may as well ask for help with your money-making project. If you get friends, family members and neighbours to donate their used rolls to you, you’ll be able to sell on a much more regular basis. While you may not make enough to give them a cut, you might want show your appreciation in other small ways  – chocolates, biscuits or a home-cooked dinner are always great tokens of thanks.

Find cheap (or free) packaging

To keep your toilet rolls from being squished and losing their shape, you’re going to need to send them off in securing packaging. Instead of spending money on buying boxes for this purpose, you could always visit your local grocery store and ask for their old shipping boxes. They are normally happy to give these away to people who are moving house etc.

Include postage in your price

Look, if someone’s buying a limited edition Star Wars action figure on eBay, they’d probably be willing to shell out a few extra pounds for postage/shipping. Not so much with something as commonplace as toilet rolls. Consider offering free shipping – they’re going to be so light, it won’t cost you much at all – and get more people interested in buying.

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The post Make money selling your old toilet rolls appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Original source: https://www.moneymagpie.com/make-money/make-money-selling-your-old-toilet-rolls

Facebook Ad Policies have been renamed to Meta Ad Standards

Meta has renamed their Facebook Advertising Policies to Meta Advertising Standards to make them “as useful, transparent and clear as possible.”

What’s changing. Nothing. Meta has made it very clear that they aren’t changing the scope of the policies, nor are they announcing any new ones.

We’re not making any changes to the scope of these policies or how we enforce them, nor are we announcing any new policies. Instead, our goal with this update is to make it easier for people and businesses to access and understand our policies.

Language and consolidation updates. Meta said in some cases they are updating the language for the policies while in others they have streamlined or consolidated them. For example, the Prohibited Financial Products and Services policy now encompasses several previously separate but related policies. 

Dig deeper. Meta Advertising guidelines can be found in the Transparency Center. The Community Standards serve as a baseline for the ad policies. Advertisers must adhere to both to be eligible to run ads.

Why we care. Advertisers should adhere to all Meta advertising standards and guidelines. Failure to do so can result in your ad account or profile being banned. If you’re unsure if a certain ad, copy, or landing page meets the criteria, review the policies in full before launching your campaigns.

The post Facebook Ad Policies have been renamed to Meta Ad Standards appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Original source: https://searchengineland.com/facebook-ad-policies-have-been-renamed-to-meta-ad-standards-388574