All Activity

The Numbers Explain Why 2026 Feels So Difficult. By CPA Trendlines Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Why audit outcomes are set earlier than most teams think—and how to design for a cleaner execution By William Englehaupt Go PRO for members-only access to more William Englehaupt. View the full article

Which ones are you most drawn to? By Jody Padar Radical Pricing – By The Radical CPA Go PRO for members-only access to more Jody Padar. View the full article

Adopt them and they’ll soon be second nature. By Martin Bissett Winning Your First Client Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Google Ads now enables call recording by default for eligible AI-qualified call leads, changing how call conversions are evaluated in the U.S. and Canada. The post Google Ads Makes Call Recording Default For AI Lead Calls appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

The industry has been building top-down for 30 years. Start with awareness, get in front of as many people as possible, and work them down through the acquisition funnel. The logic made sense in the broadcast era, and it wasn’t entirely wrong in the search era. In AI-driven environments, it’s simply wrong. Search engines, assistive engines, and agents build their ability to recommend your brand from the bottom up. They need to understand who you are before they can evaluate whether you’re credible. They need to evaluate your credibility before they recommend you to anyone. If you build from the top down, you’re wasting budget on awareness while the engines and agents have no foundation to attach it to. Agential systems make the stakes absolute. An agent acting on behalf of a user evaluates your brand, your offers, and your credibility, then commits. If the machine doesn’t understand who you are, what you offer, and whom you serve, the agent can’t act in your favor. If it understands you but doesn’t find you the most credible option, it selects your competitor. This is the ultimate zero-sum moment in AI: the recommendation you never saw happening, to the prospect you never knew was considering. The acquisition funnel runs simultaneously in opposite directions The user experience of the acquisition funnel hasn’t changed. Someone hears about you, considers you, and decides whether to commit. That journey runs wide to narrow, top to bottom: awareness first, evaluation second, and decision at the bottom. This is the familiar funnel. Elias St. Elmo Lewis formalized it in 1898. Every marketing model since has been built around it, and for 128 years, nothing fundamental has changed. The channels evolved, but the direction was always the same: reach first, relationship second, commitment third. In 2002, my friend Philippe Lanceleur described the web perfectly for search: building a website and hoping people find it is like opening a shop in the middle of a field. Nobody passes by accident. You go where your audience hangs out, engage with them, and invite them to cross the field and visit your shop. Awareness was still the prerequisite, and your marketing had no chance of working without it. The shift to entities changed the prerequisite. When Google introduced the Knowledge Graph in 2012, the machine began forming opinions about brands independently of what users were searching. The machine was drawing its own map and building roads for you. Those machine-built roads are built from the shop outwards by the machines, which means brand understanding and reputation, not awareness, become the prerequisite. All my work since 2012 has been focused on brand understanding and reputation for exactly this reason. AI makes the acquisition funnel flip more powerful still. Assistive engines and agents now actively direct users toward destinations they’ve assessed as credible. Lanceleur’s shop in the field is no longer a handicap if the machines know it’s there and believe it’s the best destination for their users: they provide the roads. This is the first genuine structural break in how brands must think about marketing since 1898. The display funnel is unchanged: the user still travels from awareness to decision. What makes you a candidate at the top of that funnel in AI engines and agents is built by training the machine to bring users to you. Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with How top-down and bottom-up coexist The big takeaway is that the build funnel runs in the opposite direction. The machine starts at the bottom. Does it know who you are? It works up through credibility. Does it trust what you do? Only then does it reach advocacy. Will it recommend you proactively? The moment of commitment by the user stays the same: know-like-trust the brand, but the only way for the user to arrive at that moment in AI assistive engines is that the machine knows, likes, and trusts your brand. The coexistence of the bi-directional funnel is real. You can build top-down in channels you control: paid media, broadcast, and direct outreach. You can still buy awareness and pull people to decision. In the engines themselves, the user still has the top-down experience. The difference is that within the engines for organic, you have to build from the bottom of the funnel (BOFU) up because that’s how the machines build the roads to your brand. Every algorithm, assistive engine, and agent operates on entity and brand signals, not on how loudly you push. Reach on social media has always been influenced by brand recognition, engagement, and topic, and here too, brand understanding and trust are gaining increasing weight. With AI, roads to your shop in the field are increasingly machine-built, and machine-built roads are built from brand understanding outwards to awareness. The original 1898 funnel still describes what users experience. In AI assistive engines and agents, it no longer describes the strategy that gets you in front of them: for that, you need to flip the funnel. In short, you can’t build your funnel in AI engines and agents top-down in a world where those machines are the mediators between you and your audience. The machine won’t recommend brands it doesn’t understand, and it will only advocate for brands it trusts. This is a mechanical fact. AI infrastructure works like this, so you also must. Understandability creates the entity node. Credibility gives it preferential consideration. Deliverability gives it visibility. Foundation. Proof. Reach. Put like that, it really does seem obvious, unavoidable, and comfortable. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. How the funnel becomes a guided sequence in AI The user journey on Google used to be a series of single-composed SERPs that users navigated themselves. Search engines composed those pages cleverly (Google and Bing have run a whole page algorithm since universal search launched in 2007, Darwinistically pulling elements from across verticals and scoring the composition as the “product”), but the navigation across the funnel was the user’s job. As an SEO, you optimized for a position in the composition, and the user carried themselves from awareness to consideration to decision by browsing, comparing, and choosing. Over the last few years, the algorithmic trinity has fundamentally changed that dynamic. The LLM reasons about what the user is asking, decides whether to answer directly, ground, search, or fact-check via the knowledge graph, and runs fan-out queries to retrieve across multiple angles of the question. Those fan-out queries (which I’ve also called cascading queries) help the assistive engine answer the question more completely and more accurately than a single query would. But the breadth of what it gathers also lets it do one more thing — and this is the mechanic that actually matters in the funnel that leads to the perfect click: it can anticipate what the user is likely to do next, and set the current answer up to flow toward it. The explicit representation of the LLM’s prediction of “next step” is the follow-up questions you see in the results. But there’s an additional implicit side to this architecture you might have missed: the way it composes the current answer shapes what the user is likely to do next. The AI is, to a very large extent, defining the acquisition journey. It seems to me the user is less in control than they feel. That means your job appears to be to fight for a slot in a sequence the machine has already built. That’s fair. But I’d argue that the brand’s job is also to train the machine’s expectations about what a logical next step looks like, so that when the LLM composes, your content is the natural thing it reaches for. You supply the ideas, you structure the follow-ups, you publish the logical bridges (“if you’re thinking about X, the next thing to consider is Y, and here’s the evidence”) in enough places, and with enough corroboration, that the machine treats those bridges as settled, not speculative. The machine then guides users toward you because your content is what its prediction landed on, because your framing is what made that prediction logical in the first place. Now, is the AI thinking one step ahead? Or playing chess and planning several moves in advance? It depends. How far ahead the machine can usefully look depends on the territory. On well-traveled ground, the paths are well-worn, and the branches are narrow, so the LLM can stage two, three, or more moves ahead. Think of this as established neurological synapses: your influence on the paths is limited here. In unusual territory, the branches collapse the prediction horizon back to one, perhaps two steps. That’s an opportunity for a brand to create the synapses with your brand firmly anchored. Here’s yet another good reason to niche down, solve very specific problems, and have a very clear funnel pathway. When defining the content I work on and terms I track, I use the concept of funnel pathway for exactly that reason — a top-of-funnel (TOFU) query that naturally leads to my brand at BOFU with a series of steps that are logical and relatively predictable. So, track a set of terms that have a natural pathway to your brand at the zero-sum moment at the bottom of the funnel. Some start at TOFU and move through MOFU to BOFU. Others begin at MOFU with a clear path to BOFU, and some start (and end) at BOFU. I’ll probably get pushback here. The number of possible paths is effectively infinite because conversations with AI can go anywhere. True. But this is a better system than chasing search volume or tracking the terms the boss likes: it forces you to think, focus, and prioritize — and it works. Get your foot in the door, and keep it there Strategically, you have to get a foot in the door as early as possible in the conversation, and ensure that you keep your foot there as the conversation evolves and the AI guides the user down the funnel. The stronger your foot in the door, the more you shape the conversation the machine builds, the more that conversation thins the field of competitors the machine considers for the next step, and, by virtue of elimination, the more likely you are to get the perfect click at the zero-sum moment at the bottom of the funnel. I’m advocating for educating the algorithms (remember, Google is a child?). The better you guide, the more the machine’s best-brand prediction converges on you step after step, because the path it’s following is the path you built into its brain. Get in high, and the compounding works in your favor. Get in late, and your competitors’ bridges become the machine’s bridges, and every subsequent step is a fight to re-enter a sequence where your competitor is Top of Algorithmic Mind. Display is where your acquisition funnel lives in the AI engine pipeline The AI engine pipeline runs 10 gates from discovered to won. Everything up to annotation (Gate 5) is infrastructure: can the machine access, store, and classify your content? From recruitment (Gate 6) onward, the engine compares you to every alternative. The understandability, credibility, and deliverability (UCD) layer is where the user sees the machine evaluation at display (Gate 8). Understandability is the key to won (Gate 9). The three dimensions of brand visibility at display Display is the moment when the machine can make or break your brand by being the most visible in the market at every touchpoint when your ideal customer profile (ICP) is having a conversation with the engine or agent. It’s obvious that this is the key moment when you need the engine or agent to be absolutely convinced that you’re the best solution to the specific user’s problem at the exact moment they convert (see the 95/5 rule here). Understandability (U) is the trusted partner/decision layer, without which nothing else will work long term. Does the machine know who you are, what you do, and who you do it for? U is BOFU, which is both the moment of decision and (logically) the deepest trust layer for both the AI user and the human user. When someone searches your brand name or asks an AI assistant directly about you, the machine draws on its understanding of your entity. If that understanding is weak, contradictory, or absent, the machine either hedges or stays silent. Typical failure modes show up in AI responses as “claims to be,” “appears to offer,” or “no idea who you are talking about.” The doubt tax — where prospects ready to buy get a hedge instead of a confirmation — is a U failure. Credibility (C) is the recommender/consideration layer. Does the AI believe you’re genuinely better than your competitors at what you do? C is MOFU, the comparison and evaluation layer. When someone asks an AI who is the best in market, the machine draws on its confidence in your N-E-E-A-T-T credibility and will exclude you if you haven’t built a rock-solid argument to be cited. If AI confidence in you is weaker than its confidence in the credibility of your competitor, you lose the comparison. The ghost tax – absent from competitive evaluation and ignored in shortlists — is a C failure. Deliverability (D) is the advocate/awareness layer. Does the AI surface your brand to people who aren’t searching for you, recommend you unprompted when they research the market, and treat you as the reference option in your category? D is TOFU, the reach layer. When someone asks an AI about a problem, you solve without knowing your brand exists, the machine draws on its confidence that you are the right answer to put in front of them. Advocacy only happens when the machine has first understood who you are (U), and judged you better than the alternatives (C). The invisibility tax — never mentioned to prospects researching the market — is a D failure. See the complete picture of your search visibility. Track, optimize, and win in Google and AI search from one platform. Start Free Trial Get started with The business case for UCD: The three taxes My untrained salesforce framing is super clear for a non-technical audience. Google, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Copilot, Siri, and Alexa are seven employees working 24/7, and they’re either selling for your brand or for your competitors. AAO can be defined as training AI assistive engines and agents to sell for you at the top, middle, and bottom of the funnel. Here’s the part most of the industry still hasn’t internalized: machines aren’t an alternative audience. They’re a mirror of how people process information, with the noise filtered out. Optimizing for machines is optimizing for humans with less guesswork. A brand SERP is Google’s opinion of the world’s opinion of you, and Google’s opinion is built from the same signals that form human opinion, only weighted more consistently, and corroborated across millions of data points. When you optimize to improve what Google believes about your brand, you’re not gaming an algorithm. You’re correcting and reinforcing what the world already believes about you, expressed with the precision humans rarely articulate. The algorithm is the clearest feedback loop marketing has ever had. Each tax is a specific failure mode of that untrained salesforce. The doubt tax is what you pay when they can’t confirm who you are to a prospect ready to buy. The ghost tax is what you pay when they can’t argue your case against competitors in a shortlist. The invisibility tax is what you pay when they don’t mention you at all to the prospect researching the market. The fixes run in one order: U before C, C before D, because the taxes are mechanically ordered, and the remediation has to match. Content was king in the keyword era, context took the throne around 2016, and confidence is king now. The AI engines don’t just store and retrieve. They stake their own credibility on the brands they recommend, and that staking runs on accumulated confidence at every layer. Build U to retire the doubt tax. Build C to retire the ghost tax. Build D to retire the invisibility tax. Every tax retired is a recommendation earned, and every recommendation earned is revenue the machine now generates on your behalf instead of your competitor’s. Strategy: Your brand SERP and AI résumé tell you where to begin Brand SERP is what Google shows when someone searches your brand name. The AI résumé is the same object in conversational format. The agent dossier is the machine’s silent judgment during evaluation before any recommendation reaches a person. All three are dual-function objects. They’re the machine’s output to every audience that asks about you, and your diagnostic instrument for reading the machine’s current confidence. That dual function is why they’re both the product and the audit. Read all three as the machine’s understanding of you, its assessment of your credibility, and its confidence in you as a solution provider. The diagnostic triage is short. If the machine gets things wrong, hedges facts, or the results don’t reflect your brand narrative, that’s an understandability problem. The entity record is inconsistent, weak, or contradictory, and the work is on your entity home: clean structured data, consistent descriptions, clear schema, and entity resolution that points to a single authoritative source. If the results are unconvincing, unflattering, or don’t do you full justice, that’s a credibility problem. Your N-E-E-A-T-T is weak, and the work is offsite: third-party mentions, review platforms, earned media, and co-citations from sources the machine trusts. If the results don’t reflect your digital marketing strategy, that’s a deliverability issue. The work is in content, both on your channels and on third-party properties, the type of material the machine treats as proof rather than a claim. In every case, the diagnosis comes before the tactics. U before C, C before D, and the sequence isn’t optional. Acquisition is one act in a 15-stage play The acquisition funnel feels dominant because it’s where conversion happens. The funnel sits on the display gate, where UCD determines whether the machine recommends you. Everything else, the work that lets display happen at all and the work that compounds afterward, runs across the nine gates before it and the five gates after it. Those five gates after Won are where most of the money is made and most of the confidence is generated. Onboarded, performed, integrated, devoted, and codified — every client outcome feeds signals back into gate zero for the next prospect who has never heard of you. The flywheel is the mechanism. Get it right, and every satisfied client strengthens the machine’s confidence in your brand for the next one. Get it wrong, and every neutral outcome decays it. That’s more than just an acquisition strategy; it’s a business strategy, with the machine as a constant participant at every stage. The final articles in this series will show you what happens after won: how every satisfied client either trains the machine to recommend you more confidently next time, or quietly erodes the confidence you’ve already built. The funnel isn’t where the money is made, but it is the critical moment the flywheel feeds where the path to money is. This is the 10th piece in my AI authority series. The first, “Rand Fishkin proved AI recommendations are inconsistent – here’s why and how to fix it,” introduced cascading confidence. The second, “AAO: Why assistive agent optimization is the next evolution of SEO,” named the discipline. The third, “The AI engine pipeline: 10 gates that decide whether you win the recommendation,” mapped the full pipeline. The fourth, “The five infrastructure gates behind crawl, render, and index,” walked through the infrastructure phase. The fifth, “5 competitive gates hidden inside ‘rank and display’,” covered the competitive phase. The sixth, “The entity home: The page that shapes how search, AI, and users see your brand,” mapped the raw material. The seventh, “The push layer returns: Why ‘publish and wait’ is half a strategy,” extended the entry model. The eighth, “How AI decides what your content means and why it gets you wrong,” covered annotation — the last gate where you’re alone with the machine. The ninth, “Why topical authority isn’t enough for AI search,” opened the competitive phase proper with topical ownership. Up next: Why evidence on its own isn’t enough, and how the framing gap explains which brands AI recommends and which it hedges on. View the full article

A new streaming service is betting that comedy doesn’t need to be a category; it can be the whole platform. On May 5, comedy distribution company 800 Pound Gorilla Media will launch Gorilla Comedy+. The boutique streaming service will feature a 250-plus-title library of stand-up specials, including new sets from Patton Oswalt, Pete Holmes, Emmy Blotnick, Jourdain Fisher, and Nish Kumar, alongside the company’s existing catalog. Gorilla Comedy+ is partnering with Cineverse, using its AI-powered Matchpoint platform to build apps across devices. The service will handle distribution and onboarding, while Cineverse’s tech stack will also enable interactive features layered across content. Subscriptions at launch will cost $9.99 a month or $99.99 for the year. Up until now, 800 Pound Gorilla Media has operated more as a middleman in the comedy industry. Founded in 2016, it initially specialized in distributing audio-only comedy albums. In recent years, the company has produced and distributed projects on YouTube, like Matt Rife’s Only Fans, as well as specials for major streamers including Netflix and Peacock. It has also partnered with production companies like Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Network and Comedy Central. But will cutting out the middleman and owning the platform, production, and marketing cannibalize the company’s existing business model? “Gorilla Comedy+ is about giving fans the ultimate stand-up experience while providing comedians with a platform that values their work,” says Ryan Bitzer, Co-Founder of 800 Pound Gorilla Media. “We designed it to complement existing partnerships and to make it easier for fans to discover and enjoy the comedians they love.” The company plans to launch new specials exclusively on the platform, then roll them out to YouTube, AVOD, FAST channels, and licensing partners. Bitzer believes windowing content first on Gorilla Comedy+ will make everything downstream more valuable. “Each window compounds the last. Distribution remains core to the business, but [Gorilla Comedy+] gives us something we’ve never had: a direct relationship with the end consumer and subscriber-level data on who’s watching, how much, and what they want next.” Niche as Core In recent years, niche and boutique streamers have seen growing success. Anime streaming service Crunchyroll has racked up 17 million subscribers. Tubi, the free, ad-supported streamer, has more than 100 million monthly users, driven in part by its commitment to niche content. Both, however, have key advantages: they are owned by larger companies (Sony and Fox respectively), and boast significantly larger libraries. Crunchyroll, the closer analogue to what Gorilla Comedy+ is trying to build, has more than 2,000 titles and simulcasts hundreds of anime series annually. What Gorilla Comedy+ lacks in scale, at least early on, it hopes to make up for with platform features. “We’re also building features most streaming platforms don’t have for comedy: tour date integrations, interactive overlays, and comedian spotlight sections that surface a deep catalog to new fans,” says Ian Adtkins, cofounder and head of innovation at 800 Pound Gorilla Media. “The platform is organized around the comedian, not just the content.” Closer comparisons may be Nebula and Dropout. Nebula is a creator-centric, independent streamer that, as of 2024, has close to 700,000 paying subscribers. It uses a complementary distribution strategy, largely centered on YouTube, where creators can post content after an exclusivity window on Nebula ends. Dropout, meanwhile, has driven popularity and profitability with a much smaller library. Its back catalog consists entirely of CollegeHumor content, and it currently runs a slate of 16 ongoing series. The company has managed churn through a staggered publishing schedule, a strong push into vertical video promotion, and a tight pool of talent that appears across multiple, often all, of its titles. “We’re targeting thousands of subscribers by year-end, building from an initial base of superfans who already buy directly from us,” says Adtkins. “We’re modeling for around 5% monthly churn, which is in line with benchmarks for niche SVOD platforms. More important than raw subscriber count in year one is engagement: we want to prove that a dedicated comedy audience will show up consistently, watch deeply into the catalog, and stay. That’s the signal that tells us the model works.” 800 Pound Gorilla Media is betting there’s space for a streaming service devoted entirely to stand-up, and that a smaller, loyal audience can carry it. In the end, success won’t hinge on scale so much as whether viewers keep coming back for another set. View the full article

A reader writes: After being laid off, I was aggressively applying to everything even remotely in my industry. I landed an interview with a company I recognized and a role I was fully qualified for. In order to move forward in the process, however, they said I needed to “complete an AI screening.” What? I was expecting a phone call with the hiring manager as a first step, but this is the future I guess. So I went with it. Well, it was — perhaps predictably — absolutely awful. Not only did the AI ask me confusing, irrelevant questions about hyper specific bullet points on my resume, but it frequently interrupted my responses and even lost connection three times, forcing me to repeat myself. All this happened while I was being video recorded, so I’m sure some of my answers likely came off a bit clipped and tired. I have no idea how I should have handled that, and I dread having to do it again for some other company. Do you have any advice? Yeah, it’s a terrible practice for exactly the reasons you encountered: nonsensical questions, technical issues, and the expectation that you’ll invest your time in a call to answer questions without getting any of your own questions answered in return so you can determine if you’re even interested in moving forward. Up until now, the social contract between employers and job-seekers has been that once your resume passes an initial screening, the next step (whether it’s a phone screen or a more in-depth interview) will give you the chance to talk to the employer to ask questions of your own so that you can figure out if you want to invest any more of your time afterwards, since it doesn’t make sense to do that if the role doesn’t fit what you’re looking for. That’s why employer demands like “write multiple essays before we’ll interview you” or “do a lengthy work simulation before you can even apply” have always seemed out-of-touch. It was bad enough when some employers started requiring one-way video interviews before they’d talk to you (where you have to record yourself answering specific questions, again without the opportunity to ask your own in return). This is that taken to new heights, and with even less respect for you and your time. But AI interviews are probably sticking around for at least a while, if not long-term, so job-seekers will have to figure out whether they’re willing to play along or not. If you have other options, you can always decline. But like most terrible hiring practices, this one will most affect the people with the fewest options. If you’re at a certain level in your field and have in-demand skills, you can say, “I’d be happy to talk with a human who can answer my questions in return; if that’s not possible, I’ll need to withdraw from consideration.” If you’re not in that position and just need a job, you probably need to roll your eyes and do it. The post my interviewer was an AI agent appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Pending sales of previously owned US homes climbed for a second month in March as a pickup in inventory helped mitigate higher borrowing costs. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Larger phone screens come with real benefits, from improved multitasking to reduced eye strain compared to smaller displays. The 2025 Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is a standout in the large-screen category, with a 6.8-inch OLED display, a superior camera, and a capable processor bolstered with a suite of AI features. Right now, the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL is 25% off on Amazon at a record-low price of $899 (originally $1,199). Google Pixel 10 Pro XL Phone - 256GB $899.00 at Amazon $1,199.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Get Deal $899.00 at Amazon $1,199.00 Save $300.00 This flagship model comes with 256GB storage, 16GB RAM, and the Tensor G5 chip (Google’s fastest yet), which provides enough power for everyday tasks while being tailored toward on-device AI processing. The Pixel 10 Pro XL is packed with AI features, including Gemini Advanced, a generative AI image creator, Pixel Studio (though there are some limitations around racial representation, according to this CNET review), and Magic Cue, a tool designed to automatically surface relevant information from conversations you’ve had so you don’t need to search for it yourself. The phone has three rear camera lenses, including a telephoto lens with 5x zoom and a front-facing camera. It performs especially well in low light and for portrait photography, and the large display makes it easier to view and edit photos (which AI tools can also help enhance), making this one of the best Android phones for photography. The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL can also charge wirelessly thanks to Pixelsnap, which our reviewer called “Google’s answer to MagSafe.” It also offers seven years of updates, setting a new standard for longevity, and a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and multitasking. The higher refresh rate can take a toll on battery life, which may feel inconsistent despite the 5,200mAh capacity (it lasts only slightly longer than the Pixel 10, though it does charge faster than previous models). Still, if the longest battery life possible isn’t your main priority and you want a phone with maximum screen real estate, the best Android photography experience possible, and powerful AI features, the Pixel 10 Pro XL delivers. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $35.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen, 2-pack, White) — $59.98 (List Price $79.99) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Google is adding three new “agentic” safety features to Ads Advisor, its AI assistant inside Google Ads, aimed at reducing manual work while tightening security and compliance. As campaigns grow more complex, advertisers are spending more time fixing policy issues, managing access, and handling certifications. Google’s pitch: let AI handle the heavy lifting so marketers can focus on performance. What’s new. The update introduces proactive troubleshooting, always-on security monitoring, and instant certifications — all powered by AI and Gemini capabilities. Zoom in: Ads Advisor can now flag and help resolve policy violations automatically, even before advertisers notice them. It monitors accounts 24/7, surfacing risks like suspicious domains or inactive users through a new security dashboard. Certifications that once took weeks can now be granted instantly or submitted with a single click. How it works. Instead of waiting for user prompts, Ads Advisor scans accounts and websites proactively, suggests fixes, and confirms resolution before appeals are submitted. On the security side, it continuously evaluates account health and recommends improvements, while new passkey support reduces reliance on passwords. Why we care. Tasks that used to take hours — fixing policy issues, monitoring account security, and handling certifications — can now be done proactively by Ads Advisor, reducing delays and aims to reduce risks. The result is faster campaign execution, fewer disruptions, and less manual overhead. What to watch. These features are rolling out in the coming months to English-language accounts, with more languages expected later. Bottom line. Google is turning Ads Advisor into a hands-on operator, not just a helper — aiming to make ad accounts safer, faster, and far less manual to manage. View the full article

Kevin Warsh is taking another step toward his decade-long goal of winning the top job at the Federal Reserve by appearing at a hearing before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday. But the role that he may eventually assume could turn out vastly different than what he expected. Inflation is worsening as the Iran war has spiked gas prices, making it much harder for the Fed to implement the interest rate cuts President Donald The President so desperately seeks. The conflict could also slow the economy as well as hiring. And if Warsh ultimately becomes chair, he may very well find his predecessor, Jerome Powell, still sitting on the Fed’s governing board, an uncomfortable arrangement that hasn’t occurred since the late 1940s. Warsh, a former top official at the Fed and a wealthy investor, will likely face a range of tough questions at the hearing. Democrats on the committee have already signaled they will press him about what they argue is a lack of transparency regarding some of his vast financial holdings, which total more than $100 million, according to a recent disclosure. Another top issue will be The President’s repeated demands for cuts in the Fed’s short-term interest rate, which has created the perception that Warsh was nominated to do the president’s bidding. Most other Fed officials have said they support keeping the central bank’s key rate unchanged, now that inflation has begun to rise again. Warsh expressed support for the Federal Reserve’s independence in written remarks released Monday that he will deliver at the hearing. He said such political independence is “essential,” but he also said it wasn’t threatened when “elected officials — presidents, senators, or members of the House — state their views on interest rates.” The President has repeatedly urged Powell to cut the Fed’s key rate from its current level of about 3.6%. Warsh also underscored his commitment to one of the Fed’s two congressional mandates: Keeping inflation low. He did not mention the other, which is pursuing maximum employment. “Inflation is a choice, and the Fed must take responsibility for it,” Warsh said in his prepared remarks. A tight focus on inflation typically leads officials to keep interest rates high to cool spending, rather than reducing rates to boost the economy, as The President has demanded. While the long-delayed hearing is a necessary step for Warsh, it’s not clear when the committee may even be able to vote on his nomination. The Justice Department is investigating Powell and the Fed over a building renovation, and Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, has said he would effectively block Warsh until the probe is dropped. “Clearly there’s a majority of the committee that’s not going to move this nomination forward, especially while this sham of a criminal investigation is going on,” Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat from Minnesota, told reporters on a conference call Monday. “It feels a bit like we’re going through the motions when we really have not addressed the fundamental challenges that this nomination has.” The turmoil could make a potential transition from Powell to Warsh an unusually turbulent one for the world’s most important central bank, which has typically seen smooth transfers of power. Should the change in leadership prove particularly bumpy, it could unnerve markets and lift longer-term interest rates. Powell’s term as chair ends May 15. He said last month that he would remain as chair until a successor is named. Powell also is serving a separate term as a member of the Fed’s governing board that lasts until January 2028. Fed chairs typically leave the board when their terms as chair end, but Powell also said last month he would remain on the board, even if a new chair is approved, until the investigation is dropped. When asked about Powell’s comments, The President said he would fire Powell if he tried to stay at the Fed. Yet The President’s previous attempt to remove a Fed governor, Lisa Cook, has been tied up in courts. During oral arguments in January, a majority of justices on the Supreme Court appeared to lean toward letting Cook keep her job. —Christopher Rugaber, AP Economics Writer View the full article

Creating video content takes time and budget, so understanding how it performs is critical. YouTube’s native analytics in YouTube Studio are robust, but they’re locked behind account access. That can make reporting difficult — especially when you need to share data or don’t have direct login access. Moving that data into Google Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio) makes it easier to analyze and distribute. With Data Studio, you can: Pull YouTube data into reports you already use. Schedule automated updates for stakeholders. Customize dashboards around the metrics that matter. Track performance without relying on backend access. Here’s how to pull your YouTube analytics into a Data Studio report. Using a template or starting from scratch You have two options when setting up a YouTube report in Data Studio. If you want something quick and easy, you can use Google’s YouTube Analytics template from their template gallery. It’s a great place to start because it provides a clean, well-designed report with foundational metrics and puts you in a good position to understand which metrics are available. But know that this template has problems you’ll need to fix, which I’ll discuss below. The other option is to create a report from scratch, which is a great choice if you already have a report you want to add a new YouTube Analytics page to, or if you just want to learn how to use Data Studio. The information below will help you do both. Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with If you’re not the YouTube account owner If you’re setting up this report for a client, or if you’re not the owner of the YouTube account, you’re going to run into an issue where the YouTube account doesn’t show up as a usable source in Data Studio. Here’s how to get around it: Go to YouTube Studio settings > Permissions, and give Manager permissions to the account email that you’re using in Data Studio. Get the Channel ID from the channel’s YouTube URL. Add a YouTube connector to Data Studio, go to Advanced, and paste the Channel ID. You should now have access to that YouTube account. Using the Data Studio YouTube Analytics template From the Data Studio home page, click Templates > Template Gallery. Under the category dropdown, click on YouTube Analytics. Clicking this will create a brand new Data Studio report that’s mostly ready to use. It loads up with sample data from the Google Analytics YouTube channel. Click the button at the top that says “Use my own data.” The first time you set up a report, you need to authorize access to your data. Click the Authorize button. Choose the Google Account connected to your YouTube channel, and then you’ll see any connected channels in the dropdown at the top of the page. You’ll notice that the data doesn’t change when you select a site here. That’s because this dropdown is connected only to the other dropdowns next to it, not any of the charts on the page. To update everything else on the page, click the Edit and Share button. If this is the first time using Data Studio, you’ll also need to do some basic account setup. Then click the Edit button at the top of the page. Now you’ll need to add your YouTube channel as a source. Click the Add data button and then search for the YouTube Analytics connector. If the Google Account is the owner of the YouTube account you connected to this Data Studio report, it’ll show up in the Channel section as an option. Your main YouTube channel will be in the My Channel tab, and other channels are in the All Channels tab, as shown below. If you don’t own the channel, see the section above to connect other channels that you don’t own, but have access to. Now you’ll be able to change the data source on any charts on the page. Simply click a chart, and you’ll see the data sources available to you in the right Properties panel. You can change the source of all of the charts on the page by selecting a chart, right-clicking on it, going to the Select menu, and then choosing “Charts with this data source on page” and then choosing your data source in the Properties sidebar. You’re mostly done, but as mentioned earlier, there are some errors in this report that you’ll need to fix. The charts at the bottom of the report are using the wrong metrics. I don’t know why Google hasn’t updated this template. It’s been like this for a long time, so I don’t know if they ever will. In the meantime, you’ll need to update the following. Change: Likes from “Average Watch Time” to “Video Likes Added” Subscriptions from “Video Link” to “User Subscriptions Added” Dislikes from “Average View Percentage” to “Video Dislikes Added” The charts in the Comments section are correct, so you don’t need to change anything there. Click on each of the charts highlighted above, one by one, and change the metric in the Properties sidebar. And now the report is finished and ready to use. Click the View button at the top of the page to view the report in a view-only format. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. Copying a template into an existing report Data Studio doesn’t support the ability to add or import templates into an existing report, but you can copy a page from one report to another. Follow the steps above to create a report using the YouTube Analytics Channel template, then copy it into another report. To do that, go into Edit mode, select all (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A), and copy all (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C). Then, in your existing report, create a new page, and paste everything you’ve copied into the page (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V), or right-click on the page and select Paste. All of the charts will likely come in broken, but you can easily update them using the tip mentioned earlier – right-clicking a chart, choosing Charts with this data source on page, and then choosing the correct source in the Properties sidebar. Customizing your report The YouTube template in Data Studio has most of what you need, but you can add much more. There are some metrics you simply can’t get in Data Studio that you’d find in the official YouTube Analytics backend, such as revenue, how viewers find your videos, watch behavior, popular viewing times, device types, genders, and retention, so there are some big limitations, but there’s still plenty to work with. To add more charts to your report, you’ll need to create more space at the bottom. In the menu, click on Page > Current page settings. In the Style tab of the Current Page Settings sidebar, set the canvas size to something like 3,000 pixels. This will give you plenty of space to work with, and you can always shorten or lengthen it as needed later. Now you can add many types of charts with a wide range of dimensions and metrics. You can add multiple metrics to graphs to get the data you need for better analysis. You can also rename headers to clean them up, and make them look less cluttered. You can pull in quite a lot of data. Here’s what’s currently offered: Using Data Studio for ongoing YouTube reporting Setting up a Data Studio report for YouTube is a great way to track your top-level metrics, and can be especially useful for monthly client reporting. It takes siloed, hard-to-share data from YouTube, and puts it into a clean, automated, centralized tool for easier decision-making. You can also set up scheduling so that Data Studio sends automated PDF exports to your email. That’s it. As you can see, it’s fairly simple to set up, but you can also add more advanced customizations to track many other KPIs. View the full article

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today, through the eyes of the Search Engine Roundtable and other search forums on the web. Google says when it comes to SEO...View the full article

Search has changed, and brands need to catch up fast, according to IBM’s Alexis Zamkow (global lead of Marketing Transformation solutions) and Sandhya Ranganathan Iyer (associate partner – AI), speaking yesterday at Adobe Summit. AI tools don’t just help people search. They answer questions, compare products, and recommend brands. In many cases, users never even visit a website. That means if your brand isn’t part of the AI-generated answer, you may not be part of the decision. To keep up, brands need more than new tactics. They need a system — a GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) playbook. Here’s a recap of their presentation, Adapt or Disappear: How Brands Win with AI-Powered Search. The AI shift: You’re marketing to machines AI agents now sit between you and your customer. They take a complex market and simplify it. They decide what information to show. And they often speak on your behalf. “These machines are disintermediating the brand experience,” Zamkow said. At the same time: Consumers are using AI for research and decisions Businesses are adopting it even faster Many searches now end without a click Zamkow said an estimated 75% of search visibility could shift to AI agents in the next two years. That’s why visibility today depends on being part of the answer itself. The GEO playbook: 12 components every brand needs To respond, the speakers outlined a 12-part playbook. It spans content, technology, and operations. 1. Strategic content foundations Your content must tell one clear story — everywhere. That includes your website, PR, social, and third-party mentions. If each channel says something different, AI won’t trust your brand. For example, if your site highlights premium quality, but reviews focus on low price, that mixed message weakens your authority. Consistency builds trust for people and machines. 2. Retrieval-grade passage standards AI doesn’t rank webpages. It extracts answers. So your content must be easy to extract. Good content looks like: Clear questions and answers. Short, focused sections. Direct language. For example, instead of a long paragraph, write: Question: What are the best running shoes for beginners? Answer: A short, clear response This makes it easier for AI to reuse your content in answers. 3. Technical foundations Even great content won’t work if AI can’t read it. Machines rely on: Clean HTML (not just visual design) Structured data (schema, metadata) Pages that load content directly One example from the session: a beautiful website appeared to AI as “a headline and a blank page.” If your content isn’t readable, it won’t be used. 4. On-site search + genAI search alignment Start with your own site. If your internal search — especially AI-powered search — works well, you’re already ahead. Think of it this way: If your own system can’t find answers on your site, external AI tools won’t either Strong internal search helps train your content for external visibility. 5. AI search citation qualification model In GEO, the goal isn’t just to be mentioned. It’s to be cited. Mentions mean you show up. Citations mean AI trusts you. AI looks for signals like: Clear expertise. Consistent messaging. Agreement across sources. Zamkow called citations the “holy grail” of visibility. 6. Extraction optimization AI tools pull content from many places and combine it. To be included, your content must be: Easy to extract. Clearly structured. Rich in context. If your content is hard to break apart, AI will skip it and use something else. 7. Real estate: third-party strategy Your website is no longer your main source of visibility. 85% of mentions come from external domains. Third-party content drives most citations. That includes: Reddit Social media Reviews and forums Media coverage This means your PR and social teams are now critical to search success. Your brand lives across the internet — not just on your site. 8. Measurement, KPIs, and reporting Old metrics don’t tell the full story anymore. Instead of just tracking clicks, you need to track: How often AI mentions your brand. Where you’re cited. Which platforms show your content. The key question changes from “Did we get traffic?” to “Did AI recommend us?” 9. SOPs (standard operating procedures) Consistency doesn’t happen by accident. Teams need clear rules for: How content is written. How it is structured. How it is published. Without SOPs, different teams will create different formats. That confuses AI and weakens your visibility. 10. Prompting best practices Search is now conversational. While people still type keywords, they are increasingly describing their needs using more conversational language. For example: Old search: “running shoes” New search: “I’m training for a marathon. What shoes should I buy?” Your content needs to match these types of questions. That means thinking like the user — and writing like the answer. 11. Change management This shift affects the whole organization. Marketing, IT, PR, and product teams all play a role. That means: Training teams on new workflows. Aligning goals and KPIs. Breaking down silos. This is bigger than just a marketing update. It’s a company-wide change. 12. Governance + versioning GEO is never finished. AI systems change constantly. Competitors update content. Rankings shift fast. To keep up, brands need: Ongoing monitoring. Regular content updates. Clear ownership of changes. If your content becomes outdated, you can quickly lose your position in AI answers. From SEO tactics to GEO systems The GEO playbook reflects a larger change in how marketing works: From keywords to prompts. From links to citations. From websites to ecosystems. From traffic to answer eligibility. From campaigns to continuous content. The focus has shifted to building a system that consistently feeds AI the right information. This is now a leadership issue This shift is already reaching the top of the organization. In one example, a product leader asked why their brand didn’t show up in an AI recommendation. The issue quickly escalated beyond marketing. “This is not a problem for your SEO team,” Zamkow said. “This is at the CEO level.” As AI becomes the front door to discovery, every leader will care about visibility. Adapt or disappear AI is already shaping how people discover and choose brands. Consumers trust it. Businesses are using it. And it’s growing fast. Brands that build and follow a clear GEO playbook — across all 12 components — will stay visible. Everyone else risks being left out of the answer. View the full article

Chinese group also slashes charging time in race against BYD for electric vehicle battery supremacyView the full article

Cross-selling and upselling are key strategies that can boost your sales performance considerably. Cross-selling involves suggesting complementary items to improve a customer’s purchase, whereas upselling encourages customers to select a higher-end product. Comprehending these approaches can help you tailor your sales tactics effectively. By utilizing customer data and technology, you can create a more personalized experience that increases customer loyalty and satisfaction. Discover how to implement these strategies effectively to maximize your sales potential. Key Takeaways Cross-selling offers complementary products to enhance the customer experience and increase average order value by up to 30%. Upselling focuses on encouraging customers to choose higher-end versions, boosting customer lifetime value and overall profits. Utilize customer data for personalized recommendations, improving conversion rates for both cross-selling and upselling strategies. Implement creative product bundling and “Shop the Look” strategies to inspire additional purchases and enhance perceived value. Build trust through transparent communication and avoid pushy tactics to increase customer loyalty and satisfaction during the sales process. Understanding Cross-Selling and Upselling When you consider enhancing your sales strategy, awareness of the differences between cross-selling and upselling is essential. Cross-selling involves encouraging customers to buy additional complementary products, like suggesting a phone case when they purchase a smartphone. Conversely, upselling focuses on persuading customers to opt for a more expensive or upgraded version of a product or service. Grasping upsell vs cross sell strategies can greatly impact your overall revenue. Both techniques aim to increase average order value (AOV), with successful execution potentially boosting profits by 20-30%. Upselling is often easier as it builds on existing customer engagement. Nevertheless, cross-selling requires a deeper insight into customer needs to recommend relevant items effectively. By leveraging customer insights from CRM data, you can tailor your recommendations based on past behavior, enhancing conversion rates. In the end, achieving proficiency in cross sell vs upsell strategies can maximize revenue from your current clients. Benefits of Cross-Selling Cross-selling offers considerable advantages that can improve your business’s overall performance. By encouraging customers to purchase complementary items, you can increase the average order value by up to 30%. Implementing effective cross-selling strategies not just improves customer satisfaction through customized recommendations but also cultivates a stronger relationship with your clients. When you provide relevant options that align with consumer needs, you boost customer retention markedly. Satisfied customers are more likely to return and make repeat purchases, contributing to improved loyalty. Additionally, companies that successfully embrace cross-selling techniques often report overall sales increases, with potential profit boosts of 20-30%. This strategy not only raises sales figures but also solidifies your brand’s reputation in the market. Benefits of Upselling Upselling offers businesses a strategic advantage by encouraging customers to contemplate higher-quality or premium products that can greatly improve their experience. By promoting these options, you can considerably increase customer lifetime value (CLV), leading to more substantial revenue over time. Research by McKinsey shows that effective upselling strategies can result in profit increases of 20-30%. Moreover, upselling boosts customer satisfaction, as it educates you about the benefits of premium products, ensuring you receive greater value for your investment. Focusing on upselling existing customers, rather than acquiring new ones, likewise helps reduce marketing costs, since loyal customers are more likely to trust and purchase from brands they already know. In addition, a successful upsell can promote improved customer loyalty, as you’re more likely to return for future purchases if you perceive genuine value in upgraded options. Key Differences Between Cross-Selling and Upselling Grasping the distinctions between cross-selling and upselling is crucial for any business looking to improve its sales strategy. Here are three key differences: Focus: Cross-selling offers complementary products, like suggesting a phone case with a smartphone purchase, whereas upselling encourages customers to choose a higher-end version of the same product, such as a premium smartphone model. Implementation: Upselling is typically easier since it targets customers already making a purchasing decision. Conversely, cross-selling requires a deeper comprehension of customer needs to effectively recommend related items. Timing and Revenue Impact: Upselling usually happens at the end of the buying process, increasing average order value, whereas cross-selling can occur throughout the customer experience, enhancing sales volume by promoting multiple items in one transaction. Recognizing these differences can greatly impact your sales tactics and revenue growth. Effective Strategies for Cross-Selling In terms of cross-selling, creative product bundling techniques can effectively boost sales by offering complementary items together at a reduced price, enhancing the perceived value for customers. You can additionally suggest premium offerings that align with their interests, making the shopping experience more personalized and appealing. Creative Product Bundling Techniques Creative product bundling techniques serve as a potent strategy for cross-selling, as they effectively encourage customers to purchase complementary items together. By implementing these strategies, you can improve perceived value and increase sales. Here are three effective techniques: “Shop the Look”: Showcase products in real-life settings to inspire customers to buy complementary items that fit well together. Free Shipping Incentives: Set minimum order values for free shipping on bundled products, motivating customers to add more items to their cart. Limited-Time Offers: Create urgency with exclusive bundled deals that prompt quicker purchasing decisions. Utilizing data analytics to identify frequently bought together items helps you craft targeted bundles that resonate with your customers, ultimately boosting sales. Suggest Premium Offerings Suggesting premium offerings can be a potent approach to improve your cross-selling efforts. When customers are already engaged, they’re often receptive to exploring higher-value options. Highlighting differences between premium and standard products, such as superior durability or advanced technology, can greatly boost conversion rates. Use high-quality images and detailed descriptions to effectively communicate the value of premium offerings, making them more appealing than lower-tier options. Implementing a comparison tool on your product pages allows customers to evaluate specifications and benefits, aiding informed decision-making. Furthermore, personalizing recommendations based on previous purchase behavior can elevate customer satisfaction and drive loyalty, as it shows you’re addressing their unique needs. This strategic focus on premium offerings can lead to increased sales and customer retention. Effective Strategies for Upselling When you’re looking to upsell, clearly highlighting the benefits of premium products is crucial. Customers are more likely to contemplate upgrades when they see the added value these higher-tier options provide, so make sure to communicate those advantages effectively. Furthermore, personalizing recommendations based on customer data can make your offers more relevant, increasing the chances of a successful upsell. Premium Product Recommendations Upselling premium products is a strategic approach that can greatly improve customer satisfaction and increase your revenue. By focusing on the superior benefits and features of these items, you can effectively educate customers on the value they gain with higher-tier options. Here are some effective strategies: Use high-quality images and detailed descriptions to elevate perceived value, making customers more inclined to contemplate an upgrade. Offer personalized recommendations based on previous purchases and preferences to align with their specific needs, increasing the likelihood of successful upselling. Implement strategic timing for upsell suggestions, like during checkout, to capitalize on customers already considering a purchase, leading to higher conversion rates. Utilizing these techniques can considerably boost your average order value. Highlighting Added Value Highlighting the added value of premium products is vital for effective upselling, as it directly influences customers’ purchasing decisions. You can greatly boost profits by showcasing improved features that align with customer needs, often leading to a 20-30% increase. Use high-quality images and detailed descriptions to clarify benefits, and present comparisons between standard and premium options to illustrate advantages clearly. Timing is critical; introduce premium options just before purchase finalization to maximize impact. Furthermore, providing incentives like discounts or exclusive bundles can further emphasize added value, motivating customers to upgrade. Feature Standard Product Premium Product Price $50 $80 Warranty 1 Year 3 Years Customer Support Basic 24/7 Priority Support Features Fundamental Improved Features Extra Perks None Exclusive Discounts Utilizing Customer Data for Enhanced Sales To improve sales effectively, businesses can utilize customer data, which provides valuable insights into preferences and purchasing behaviors. By analyzing this data, you can tailor your cross-sell and upsell strategies to resonate with individual needs. Here are three key methods to improve your sales approach: Customer Segmentation: Group customers based on demographics and past purchases to deliver relevant product recommendations that increase sales success. Optimal Timing: Use insights from customer interactions to identify the best moments to present upsell and cross-sell offers, maximizing acceptance rates. A/B Testing: Experiment with different sales approaches using customer data to refine strategies, improving conversion rates for both upselling and cross-selling. Continuous monitoring of customer feedback and engagement metrics is crucial. This allows you to adapt sales strategies dynamically, ensuring alignment with customer expectations and preferences, eventually boosting your sales effectiveness. Building Trust With Customers Building trust with customers is essential for improving sales strategies, as it directly influences their purchasing decisions. Establishing genuine rapport through personalized interactions can lead to a 50% increase in customer loyalty. When customers feel understood and valued, they’re more likely to accept your recommendations, with 86% willing to pay more for a better experience. To build trust effectively, consider the following strategies: Strategy Impact Avoid pushy sales tactics 30% higher likelihood of exploring options Focus on product benefits 20-30% increase in upsell success Communicate transparently Improves customer satisfaction Leveraging Technology for Cross-Selling and Upselling When you’re looking to improve your sales strategies, leveraging technology for cross-selling and upselling can be a pivotal factor. Here are some effective ways to utilize technology: CRM Software: Tools like monday.com centralize customer data, helping you analyze purchasing behavior and tailor your strategies effectively. AI-Driven Tools: These automate the identification of upsell and cross-sell opportunities by analyzing past purchases, boosting efficiency in your sales efforts. Marketing Automation: Platforms can send personalized follow-up emails recommending complementary products or premium upgrades, enhancing customer engagement. Additionally, integrating chatbots on your e-commerce site can provide real-time product recommendations, facilitating sales during customer interactions. Using analytics tools helps you track the performance of your campaigns, allowing you to refine your strategies based on customer responses. Creating a Cohesive Sales Approach Creating a cohesive sales approach intertwines cross-selling and upselling strategies to improve customer experiences in addition to maximizing revenue. By effectively bundling complementary products or services, you can encourage customers to purchase more items together, potentially increasing your average order value by up to 30% when priced strategically. Utilizing customer insights from CRM systems allows you to tailor recommendations, leading to a 20% increase in conversion rates for both cross-sell and upsell offers. Timing is likewise essential; presenting upsell opportunities just before purchase completion boosts acceptance likelihood, whereas cross-sell suggestions work best post-purchase to improve customer satisfaction. Regularly monitoring and analyzing your sales performance metrics guarantees that your strategies remain aligned with customer needs and market trends. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 25% Rule of Thumb for Cross-Selling? The 25% rule of thumb for cross-selling suggests you should aim for at least 25% of your sales revenue to come from additional products or services offered to existing customers. This approach helps improve your overall sales without the higher costs of acquiring new customers. Which Is More Effective: Upselling or Cross-Selling? When comparing upselling and cross-selling, upselling often proves more effective in increasing revenue per transaction. It encourages customers to opt for higher-priced items, directly enhancing profit margins. Conversely, cross-selling broadens the number of products sold but may require more effort to understand customer preferences. The choice between the two depends on your goals—whether you aim for deeper engagement with existing products or enlarging the customer’s overall purchase experience. What Are the 5 P’s of Successful Selling? The 5 P’s of successful selling are Product, Price, Place, Promotion, and People. You need to understand your product’s features and benefits to meet customer needs effectively. Price should reflect competitive value during attracting buyers. Place involves selecting the right channels for accessibility. Promotion encompasses strategies to communicate your product’s value clearly, engaging customers through targeted marketing. Finally, People refers to building relationships with customers to improve their buying experience and loyalty. What Are the 4 C’s in Sales? The 4 C’s in sales are Customer, Cost, Convenience, and Communication. Comprehending the Customer means knowing their preferences and pain points. Evaluating Cost involves gauging both the monetary price and the perceived value of your offering. Convenience focuses on making the buying process easy and accessible for customers. Finally, Communication entails maintaining clear and ongoing dialogue with customers, which builds trust and helps them make informed decisions about their purchases. Conclusion In conclusion, effectively implementing cross-selling and upselling strategies can greatly improve your sales performance and customer satisfaction. By comprehending the distinct benefits of each approach and utilizing customer data, you can tailor your offerings to meet specific needs. Building trust with customers and leveraging technology will further streamline these efforts. Adopting a cohesive sales strategy that incorporates both techniques can lead to increased average order values and promote long-term loyalty, ultimately benefiting your business’s overall success. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Cross Sell Vs Upsell Strategies to Boost Sales" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Cross-selling and upselling are key strategies that can boost your sales performance considerably. Cross-selling involves suggesting complementary items to improve a customer’s purchase, whereas upselling encourages customers to select a higher-end product. Comprehending these approaches can help you tailor your sales tactics effectively. By utilizing customer data and technology, you can create a more personalized experience that increases customer loyalty and satisfaction. Discover how to implement these strategies effectively to maximize your sales potential. Key Takeaways Cross-selling offers complementary products to enhance the customer experience and increase average order value by up to 30%. Upselling focuses on encouraging customers to choose higher-end versions, boosting customer lifetime value and overall profits. Utilize customer data for personalized recommendations, improving conversion rates for both cross-selling and upselling strategies. Implement creative product bundling and “Shop the Look” strategies to inspire additional purchases and enhance perceived value. Build trust through transparent communication and avoid pushy tactics to increase customer loyalty and satisfaction during the sales process. Understanding Cross-Selling and Upselling When you consider enhancing your sales strategy, awareness of the differences between cross-selling and upselling is essential. Cross-selling involves encouraging customers to buy additional complementary products, like suggesting a phone case when they purchase a smartphone. Conversely, upselling focuses on persuading customers to opt for a more expensive or upgraded version of a product or service. Grasping upsell vs cross sell strategies can greatly impact your overall revenue. Both techniques aim to increase average order value (AOV), with successful execution potentially boosting profits by 20-30%. Upselling is often easier as it builds on existing customer engagement. Nevertheless, cross-selling requires a deeper insight into customer needs to recommend relevant items effectively. By leveraging customer insights from CRM data, you can tailor your recommendations based on past behavior, enhancing conversion rates. In the end, achieving proficiency in cross sell vs upsell strategies can maximize revenue from your current clients. Benefits of Cross-Selling Cross-selling offers considerable advantages that can improve your business’s overall performance. By encouraging customers to purchase complementary items, you can increase the average order value by up to 30%. Implementing effective cross-selling strategies not just improves customer satisfaction through customized recommendations but also cultivates a stronger relationship with your clients. When you provide relevant options that align with consumer needs, you boost customer retention markedly. Satisfied customers are more likely to return and make repeat purchases, contributing to improved loyalty. Additionally, companies that successfully embrace cross-selling techniques often report overall sales increases, with potential profit boosts of 20-30%. This strategy not only raises sales figures but also solidifies your brand’s reputation in the market. Benefits of Upselling Upselling offers businesses a strategic advantage by encouraging customers to contemplate higher-quality or premium products that can greatly improve their experience. By promoting these options, you can considerably increase customer lifetime value (CLV), leading to more substantial revenue over time. Research by McKinsey shows that effective upselling strategies can result in profit increases of 20-30%. Moreover, upselling boosts customer satisfaction, as it educates you about the benefits of premium products, ensuring you receive greater value for your investment. Focusing on upselling existing customers, rather than acquiring new ones, likewise helps reduce marketing costs, since loyal customers are more likely to trust and purchase from brands they already know. In addition, a successful upsell can promote improved customer loyalty, as you’re more likely to return for future purchases if you perceive genuine value in upgraded options. Key Differences Between Cross-Selling and Upselling Grasping the distinctions between cross-selling and upselling is crucial for any business looking to improve its sales strategy. Here are three key differences: Focus: Cross-selling offers complementary products, like suggesting a phone case with a smartphone purchase, whereas upselling encourages customers to choose a higher-end version of the same product, such as a premium smartphone model. Implementation: Upselling is typically easier since it targets customers already making a purchasing decision. Conversely, cross-selling requires a deeper comprehension of customer needs to effectively recommend related items. Timing and Revenue Impact: Upselling usually happens at the end of the buying process, increasing average order value, whereas cross-selling can occur throughout the customer experience, enhancing sales volume by promoting multiple items in one transaction. Recognizing these differences can greatly impact your sales tactics and revenue growth. Effective Strategies for Cross-Selling In terms of cross-selling, creative product bundling techniques can effectively boost sales by offering complementary items together at a reduced price, enhancing the perceived value for customers. You can additionally suggest premium offerings that align with their interests, making the shopping experience more personalized and appealing. Creative Product Bundling Techniques Creative product bundling techniques serve as a potent strategy for cross-selling, as they effectively encourage customers to purchase complementary items together. By implementing these strategies, you can improve perceived value and increase sales. Here are three effective techniques: “Shop the Look”: Showcase products in real-life settings to inspire customers to buy complementary items that fit well together. Free Shipping Incentives: Set minimum order values for free shipping on bundled products, motivating customers to add more items to their cart. Limited-Time Offers: Create urgency with exclusive bundled deals that prompt quicker purchasing decisions. Utilizing data analytics to identify frequently bought together items helps you craft targeted bundles that resonate with your customers, ultimately boosting sales. Suggest Premium Offerings Suggesting premium offerings can be a potent approach to improve your cross-selling efforts. When customers are already engaged, they’re often receptive to exploring higher-value options. Highlighting differences between premium and standard products, such as superior durability or advanced technology, can greatly boost conversion rates. Use high-quality images and detailed descriptions to effectively communicate the value of premium offerings, making them more appealing than lower-tier options. Implementing a comparison tool on your product pages allows customers to evaluate specifications and benefits, aiding informed decision-making. Furthermore, personalizing recommendations based on previous purchase behavior can elevate customer satisfaction and drive loyalty, as it shows you’re addressing their unique needs. This strategic focus on premium offerings can lead to increased sales and customer retention. Effective Strategies for Upselling When you’re looking to upsell, clearly highlighting the benefits of premium products is crucial. Customers are more likely to contemplate upgrades when they see the added value these higher-tier options provide, so make sure to communicate those advantages effectively. Furthermore, personalizing recommendations based on customer data can make your offers more relevant, increasing the chances of a successful upsell. Premium Product Recommendations Upselling premium products is a strategic approach that can greatly improve customer satisfaction and increase your revenue. By focusing on the superior benefits and features of these items, you can effectively educate customers on the value they gain with higher-tier options. Here are some effective strategies: Use high-quality images and detailed descriptions to elevate perceived value, making customers more inclined to contemplate an upgrade. Offer personalized recommendations based on previous purchases and preferences to align with their specific needs, increasing the likelihood of successful upselling. Implement strategic timing for upsell suggestions, like during checkout, to capitalize on customers already considering a purchase, leading to higher conversion rates. Utilizing these techniques can considerably boost your average order value. Highlighting Added Value Highlighting the added value of premium products is vital for effective upselling, as it directly influences customers’ purchasing decisions. You can greatly boost profits by showcasing improved features that align with customer needs, often leading to a 20-30% increase. Use high-quality images and detailed descriptions to clarify benefits, and present comparisons between standard and premium options to illustrate advantages clearly. Timing is critical; introduce premium options just before purchase finalization to maximize impact. Furthermore, providing incentives like discounts or exclusive bundles can further emphasize added value, motivating customers to upgrade. Feature Standard Product Premium Product Price $50 $80 Warranty 1 Year 3 Years Customer Support Basic 24/7 Priority Support Features Fundamental Improved Features Extra Perks None Exclusive Discounts Utilizing Customer Data for Enhanced Sales To improve sales effectively, businesses can utilize customer data, which provides valuable insights into preferences and purchasing behaviors. By analyzing this data, you can tailor your cross-sell and upsell strategies to resonate with individual needs. Here are three key methods to improve your sales approach: Customer Segmentation: Group customers based on demographics and past purchases to deliver relevant product recommendations that increase sales success. Optimal Timing: Use insights from customer interactions to identify the best moments to present upsell and cross-sell offers, maximizing acceptance rates. A/B Testing: Experiment with different sales approaches using customer data to refine strategies, improving conversion rates for both upselling and cross-selling. Continuous monitoring of customer feedback and engagement metrics is crucial. This allows you to adapt sales strategies dynamically, ensuring alignment with customer expectations and preferences, eventually boosting your sales effectiveness. Building Trust With Customers Building trust with customers is essential for improving sales strategies, as it directly influences their purchasing decisions. Establishing genuine rapport through personalized interactions can lead to a 50% increase in customer loyalty. When customers feel understood and valued, they’re more likely to accept your recommendations, with 86% willing to pay more for a better experience. To build trust effectively, consider the following strategies: Strategy Impact Avoid pushy sales tactics 30% higher likelihood of exploring options Focus on product benefits 20-30% increase in upsell success Communicate transparently Improves customer satisfaction Leveraging Technology for Cross-Selling and Upselling When you’re looking to improve your sales strategies, leveraging technology for cross-selling and upselling can be a pivotal factor. Here are some effective ways to utilize technology: CRM Software: Tools like monday.com centralize customer data, helping you analyze purchasing behavior and tailor your strategies effectively. AI-Driven Tools: These automate the identification of upsell and cross-sell opportunities by analyzing past purchases, boosting efficiency in your sales efforts. Marketing Automation: Platforms can send personalized follow-up emails recommending complementary products or premium upgrades, enhancing customer engagement. Additionally, integrating chatbots on your e-commerce site can provide real-time product recommendations, facilitating sales during customer interactions. Using analytics tools helps you track the performance of your campaigns, allowing you to refine your strategies based on customer responses. Creating a Cohesive Sales Approach Creating a cohesive sales approach intertwines cross-selling and upselling strategies to improve customer experiences in addition to maximizing revenue. By effectively bundling complementary products or services, you can encourage customers to purchase more items together, potentially increasing your average order value by up to 30% when priced strategically. Utilizing customer insights from CRM systems allows you to tailor recommendations, leading to a 20% increase in conversion rates for both cross-sell and upsell offers. Timing is likewise essential; presenting upsell opportunities just before purchase completion boosts acceptance likelihood, whereas cross-sell suggestions work best post-purchase to improve customer satisfaction. Regularly monitoring and analyzing your sales performance metrics guarantees that your strategies remain aligned with customer needs and market trends. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 25% Rule of Thumb for Cross-Selling? The 25% rule of thumb for cross-selling suggests you should aim for at least 25% of your sales revenue to come from additional products or services offered to existing customers. This approach helps improve your overall sales without the higher costs of acquiring new customers. Which Is More Effective: Upselling or Cross-Selling? When comparing upselling and cross-selling, upselling often proves more effective in increasing revenue per transaction. It encourages customers to opt for higher-priced items, directly enhancing profit margins. Conversely, cross-selling broadens the number of products sold but may require more effort to understand customer preferences. The choice between the two depends on your goals—whether you aim for deeper engagement with existing products or enlarging the customer’s overall purchase experience. What Are the 5 P’s of Successful Selling? The 5 P’s of successful selling are Product, Price, Place, Promotion, and People. You need to understand your product’s features and benefits to meet customer needs effectively. Price should reflect competitive value during attracting buyers. Place involves selecting the right channels for accessibility. Promotion encompasses strategies to communicate your product’s value clearly, engaging customers through targeted marketing. Finally, People refers to building relationships with customers to improve their buying experience and loyalty. What Are the 4 C’s in Sales? The 4 C’s in sales are Customer, Cost, Convenience, and Communication. Comprehending the Customer means knowing their preferences and pain points. Evaluating Cost involves gauging both the monetary price and the perceived value of your offering. Convenience focuses on making the buying process easy and accessible for customers. Finally, Communication entails maintaining clear and ongoing dialogue with customers, which builds trust and helps them make informed decisions about their purchases. Conclusion In conclusion, effectively implementing cross-selling and upselling strategies can greatly improve your sales performance and customer satisfaction. By comprehending the distinct benefits of each approach and utilizing customer data, you can tailor your offerings to meet specific needs. Building trust with customers and leveraging technology will further streamline these efforts. Adopting a cohesive sales strategy that incorporates both techniques can lead to increased average order values and promote long-term loyalty, ultimately benefiting your business’s overall success. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Cross Sell Vs Upsell Strategies to Boost Sales" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Analysis across four LLMs reveals how citation and mention behavior differs, and why it matters. The post The Ghost Citation Problem appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Samsung HW-Q800F soundbar is down to $749.99 on Amazon, more than 30% off its $1,100 list price, and the lowest price it has ever reached on tAmazon, according to price trackers. In terms of features and specs, it sits just below Samsung’s flagship Q990F, offering a 5.1.2-channel setup with Dolby Atmos, but without the extra rear speakers found on higher-end systems. For a lot of living rooms, that means fewer components to place and wire up, while still aiming for more immersive sound than a basic soundbar. Samsung HW-Q800F 5.1.2ch Q Series Soundbar with Wireless Dolby Atmos $749.99 at Amazon $1,099.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal Get Deal $749.99 at Amazon $1,099.99 Save $350.00 The Q800F is built with movies and TV in mind, with the included subwoofer delivering deep, punchy bass that adds weight to action scenes without the need for much tweaking. Dialogue will sound clearer than on most TVs, thanks to the dedicated center channel, which helps voices stay at the forefront even during busy scenes. It handles connectivity well, too: There is HDMI passthrough for 4K at 60Hz with HDR and Dolby Vision, along with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, and Spotify Connect. If you are using a recent Samsung TV, Q-Symphony lets the TV speakers and soundbar work together, and wireless Dolby Atmos is an option, allowing you to skip the extra cable. Alexa offers built-in voice control, although setting up Google Assistant requires a few extra steps through Samsung’s app. On the other hand, this may not be the choice for cutting-edge gaming setups, as the soundbar lacks HDMI 2.1 features like variable refresh rate. Also, while the Atmos effect is present, it does not fully surround you in the same way systems with rear speakers can. Bass can also come across as slightly heavy at times, and some midrange detail, especially in dialogue, can feel less full depending on the content. Still, if you want a cleaner setup that avoids multiple speakers around the room, the Q800F strikes a practical balance. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $35.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen, 2-pack, White) — $59.98 (List Price $79.99) Apple Watch Series 11 [GPS 46mm] Smartwatch with Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band - M/L. Sleep Score, Fitness Tracker, Health Monitoring, Always-On Display, Water Resistant — $329.00 (List Price $429.00) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

A Small Business Corporation Form, known as IRS Form 2553, is vital for businesses that want to elect S corporation status. This form allows eligible companies to benefit from pass-through taxation, which helps avoid double taxation seen in C corporations. Nevertheless, not all businesses qualify, as specific eligibility criteria must be met. Comprehending these requirements and the filing process is critical for maximizing potential tax advantages and ensuring compliance. What are the next steps after filing? Key Takeaways A Small Business Corporation Form, specifically Form 2553, allows eligible businesses to elect S corporation tax treatment. It enables pass-through taxation, helping avoid double taxation typically faced by C corporations. Eligibility requires a maximum of 100 shareholders, all of whom must be U.S. citizens or residents. The form must be filed within two months and 15 days after the tax year begins to be effective. Filing Form 2553 provides limited liability protection and can lead to significant tax savings for shareholders. What Is IRS Form 2553? IRS Form 2553, known as the Election by a Small Business Corporation, is an important document for eligible businesses aiming to change their tax status to that of an S corporation. This form allows eligible domestic entities to elect S corporation tax treatment under Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code, which creates a pass-through tax mechanism. To qualify, your business must have no more than 100 shareholders, all of whom must be U.S. citizens or residents. When filing, you’ll need to provide basic company information, including your corporation’s name and Employer Identification Number (EIN), along with details of all shareholders. It’s vital to follow the form 2553 instructions carefully, as the filing must occur within two months and 15 days after the tax year begins. Late filing is possible, but you’ll need to demonstrate reasonable cause and guarantee that all shareholders report income consistently with S corporation status. Why File Form 2553 and Become an S Corp? Filing Form 2553 is a strategic move for business owners looking to optimize their tax situation by electing S corporation status. By doing so, you shift from corporate taxation to pass-through taxation, meaning profits are taxed only at individual shareholder rates, avoiding the double taxation typically faced by C corporations. This change can lead to significant tax savings, especially on self-employment taxes, as you can draw a reasonable salary and distribute additional profits as dividends. Additionally, if your business incurs startup losses, an S corporation allows you to write off these losses against other income on your personal tax returns, providing immediate tax relief. Nevertheless, all shareholders must unanimously consent to this election, and the business must meet specific IRS eligibility requirements. Eligibility Requirements for Filing Form 2553 To elect S corporation status by filing Form 2553, your small business must meet several eligibility requirements. Here’s what you need to know: Domestic Entity: Your corporation must be a domestic entity operating within the U.S. and can’t have non-resident shareholders. Shareholder Limit: You’re limited to a maximum of 100 shareholders, but family members can count as a single shareholder for this limit. Eligible Shareholders: Shareholders must be individuals, estates, certain exempt organizations, or specific trusts; partnerships and corporations aren’t allowed to hold shares. Single Class of Stock: Your corporation must have only one class of stock, meaning you can’t issue both common and preferred stock types. Form 2553 Instructions Completing Form 2553 is a key step in electing S corporation status for your small business, which allows for pass-through taxation. To fill out the form, you’ll need to provide your business’s name, Employer Identification Number (EIN), incorporation date, and details about shareholders. Make certain to submit the form within two months and 15 days after your tax year begins; for the 2023 tax year, this means a deadline of March 15. In Part III of the form, an officer must sign to certify the information, and all shareholders need to consent to the S corporation election. If you’re filing late, include a statement explaining the delay and mark the form with “FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2013-30” at the top. You can find a form 2553 PDF online to guarantee you have the correct format and can easily complete the necessary details. How to Submit a Completed Form 2553 When you’re ready to submit your completed Form 2553, it’s important to follow the guidelines carefully. Make certain you mail or fax the original form to the correct IRS service center, as photocopies won’t be accepted. Don’t forget to check that you’ve included all required information, such as accurate contact details for an officer, to guarantee smooth communication with the IRS. Submission Methods Overview Submitting Form 2553 is a vital step for ensuring your corporation is recognized as an S corporation, and you need to follow specific methods to do it correctly. Here’s how you can submit your completed form: Mail or Fax: The only accepted submission methods are by mail or fax; online submissions aren’t allowed. Original Forms Only: Make sure you send an original form since photocopies won’t be processed. Send to the Right IRS Center: Refer to page 3 of the form’s instructions to find out where to fax Form 2553 based on your principal business location. Timeliness Matters: File within two months and 15 days after your tax year begins to maintain S corporation status. For late submissions, include an explanation at the top. Required Information Checklist To successfully submit Form 2553 and elect S corporation status, you’ll need to gather specific information about your corporation. Start with the corporation’s name, address, Employer Identification Number (EIN), incorporation date, and the state of incorporation. Ascertain all shareholders consent to the S corporation status by providing their signatures on the S corporation form 2553. Remember, you must mail or fax the completed form to the appropriate IRS service center; online submission isn’t allowed. Timeliness is critical; file Form 2553 within two months and 15 days after the tax year begins for your election to be effective. If you’re filing late, include a statement explaining the delay and mark “FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2013-30” at the top. What Is the Deadline to Submit 2553? When you’re looking to file Form 2553 for S corporation status, it’s essential to be aware of the deadlines. You need to submit this form within two months and 15 days after your tax year begins, or by March 15 if you’re aiming for 2023. If you miss this deadline, you might still qualify by showing reasonable cause, but you’ll need to follow specific guidelines for late submissions. S-Corp Election Timeline Comprehending the S-Corp election timeline is vital for any corporation aiming to benefit from S corporation status. To guarantee you submit the S corp election form on time, keep these key deadlines in mind: Form 2553 must be filed within two months and 15 days after the start of your tax year for it to be effective. For the 2023 tax year, the deadline is March 15, 2023. You can likewise elect S corporation status anytime during the preceding tax year by submitting Form 2553. If you miss the deadline, late filing may be accepted under specific conditions, so include a reasonable cause statement. Timely submission of Form 2553 is vital to maintain eligibility for S corporation benefits. Late Filing Relief Options Although missing the deadline to submit Form 2553 can be stressful, there are relief options available for late filings that can help you still achieve S corporation status. If you missed the March 15, 2023, deadline, you can file Form 2553 late by demonstrating reasonable cause for the delay. Be sure to mark your form with “FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2013-30” and include a signed statement of reasonable cause from all shareholders. It’s essential to report income as if you’d filed on time, regardless of your election being late. If you need to send your form quickly, you can use the 2553 fax number provided by the IRS for expedited processing. Filing Form 2553 Late Filing Form 2553 late can pose challenges for S corporations seeking S corporation status, but options are available to rectify the situation. If you miss the deadline, here’s what you can do: Demonstrate Reasonable Cause: Explain why you were late and how it was beyond your control. Shareholder Agreement: Make certain every shareholder has reported their income as if you were already an S corporation. Label Your Submission: Clearly write “FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2013-30” at the top of your late Form 2553. Include Shareholder Signatures: All shareholders must sign the form to show consent for the late filing. After completing these steps, know where to mail Form 2553 to guarantee it reaches the right office. This process allows your corporation to seek relief and potentially gain the benefits of S corporation status in spite of the delay. Benefits of Filing as an S-Corp When you choose to file as an S corporation, you reveal several important benefits that can improve your business’s financial health. One major advantage is avoiding double taxation; your income is only taxed at the individual shareholder level. This pass-through taxation allows you to report profits and losses on your personal tax returns, potentially lowering your overall tax liabilities. If your business incurs losses, you can deduct them on your personal returns, which is particularly beneficial in the early years. Furthermore, with a limit of 100 shareholders, decision-making often becomes more streamlined and personal. Filing Form 2553 is crucial to gain these benefits and maintain your S-Corp status. Finally, S-Corps offer limited liability protection, safeguarding your personal assets from business debts while enhancing your company’s credibility with clients and vendors. After Filing: What Next? After you’ve filed Form 2553 and received confirmation from the IRS regarding your S corporation status, it’s essential to understand the next steps to secure compliance and proper operation. Here’s what you should do next: Report Income: Shareholders must report their share of the corporation’s income, deductions, and credits on personal tax returns as soon as the S corporation status takes effect. Maintain Records: Keep accurate records of your S corporation’s financial activities for future tax reporting and compliance. Review Documents: Update your legal documents and operating agreements to reflect the new tax status and guarantee compliance with all regulations. Late Filing Relief: If you filed Form 2553 late, include a statement explaining the delay, signed by all shareholders, to qualify for late election relief. Frequently Asked Questions Is My LLC an S or C Corp? To determine if your LLC is an S or C corporation, check how you filed your taxes. By default, an LLC is treated as a C corporation except if you filed IRS Form 2553 to elect S corporation status. If you meet eligibility criteria, like having up to 100 shareholders and one class of stock, you might qualify for S status, which allows for pass-through taxation, avoiding double taxation on corporate income. What Is a Small Business Corporation? A small business corporation, often called an S corporation, allows you to pass profits directly to shareholders without corporate income tax. To qualify, your business must be a domestic corporation with up to 100 shareholders, all U.S. citizens or residents. S corporations can only issue one class of stock, limiting equity types. What Makes a Small Business a Corporation? To make a small business a corporation, you must formally register it with the state, choosing a corporate structure such as an S corporation. This involves filing specific documents, like articles of incorporation, which outline your business purpose and structure. You’ll furthermore need to issue shares and adhere to regulations, including maintaining corporate formalities. How Do I Know if I Am an S Corp? To determine if you’re an S corporation, check if you’ve filed IRS Form 2553 and received approval. Your business must likewise meet specific criteria, including having no more than 100 shareholders, all of whom are U.S. citizens or residents. Furthermore, guarantee you maintain one class of stock and comply with IRS regulations. If you fail to meet these requirements, you might lose your S corp status, so stay informed and compliant. Conclusion In conclusion, IRS Form 2553 is vital for small businesses seeking S corporation status, offering significant tax advantages and limited liability. To qualify, your business must meet specific eligibility requirements, and timely submission is important. If you’ve missed the deadline, there are options for late filing. After submitting, you can enjoy the benefits of pass-through taxation and simplified decision-making. Comprehending this process is key to maximizing your business’s financial potential as you remain compliant with IRS regulations. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What Is a Small Business Corporation Form?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A Small Business Corporation Form, known as IRS Form 2553, is vital for businesses that want to elect S corporation status. This form allows eligible companies to benefit from pass-through taxation, which helps avoid double taxation seen in C corporations. Nevertheless, not all businesses qualify, as specific eligibility criteria must be met. Comprehending these requirements and the filing process is critical for maximizing potential tax advantages and ensuring compliance. What are the next steps after filing? Key Takeaways A Small Business Corporation Form, specifically Form 2553, allows eligible businesses to elect S corporation tax treatment. It enables pass-through taxation, helping avoid double taxation typically faced by C corporations. Eligibility requires a maximum of 100 shareholders, all of whom must be U.S. citizens or residents. The form must be filed within two months and 15 days after the tax year begins to be effective. Filing Form 2553 provides limited liability protection and can lead to significant tax savings for shareholders. What Is IRS Form 2553? IRS Form 2553, known as the Election by a Small Business Corporation, is an important document for eligible businesses aiming to change their tax status to that of an S corporation. This form allows eligible domestic entities to elect S corporation tax treatment under Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code, which creates a pass-through tax mechanism. To qualify, your business must have no more than 100 shareholders, all of whom must be U.S. citizens or residents. When filing, you’ll need to provide basic company information, including your corporation’s name and Employer Identification Number (EIN), along with details of all shareholders. It’s vital to follow the form 2553 instructions carefully, as the filing must occur within two months and 15 days after the tax year begins. Late filing is possible, but you’ll need to demonstrate reasonable cause and guarantee that all shareholders report income consistently with S corporation status. Why File Form 2553 and Become an S Corp? Filing Form 2553 is a strategic move for business owners looking to optimize their tax situation by electing S corporation status. By doing so, you shift from corporate taxation to pass-through taxation, meaning profits are taxed only at individual shareholder rates, avoiding the double taxation typically faced by C corporations. This change can lead to significant tax savings, especially on self-employment taxes, as you can draw a reasonable salary and distribute additional profits as dividends. Additionally, if your business incurs startup losses, an S corporation allows you to write off these losses against other income on your personal tax returns, providing immediate tax relief. Nevertheless, all shareholders must unanimously consent to this election, and the business must meet specific IRS eligibility requirements. Eligibility Requirements for Filing Form 2553 To elect S corporation status by filing Form 2553, your small business must meet several eligibility requirements. Here’s what you need to know: Domestic Entity: Your corporation must be a domestic entity operating within the U.S. and can’t have non-resident shareholders. Shareholder Limit: You’re limited to a maximum of 100 shareholders, but family members can count as a single shareholder for this limit. Eligible Shareholders: Shareholders must be individuals, estates, certain exempt organizations, or specific trusts; partnerships and corporations aren’t allowed to hold shares. Single Class of Stock: Your corporation must have only one class of stock, meaning you can’t issue both common and preferred stock types. Form 2553 Instructions Completing Form 2553 is a key step in electing S corporation status for your small business, which allows for pass-through taxation. To fill out the form, you’ll need to provide your business’s name, Employer Identification Number (EIN), incorporation date, and details about shareholders. Make certain to submit the form within two months and 15 days after your tax year begins; for the 2023 tax year, this means a deadline of March 15. In Part III of the form, an officer must sign to certify the information, and all shareholders need to consent to the S corporation election. If you’re filing late, include a statement explaining the delay and mark the form with “FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2013-30” at the top. You can find a form 2553 PDF online to guarantee you have the correct format and can easily complete the necessary details. How to Submit a Completed Form 2553 When you’re ready to submit your completed Form 2553, it’s important to follow the guidelines carefully. Make certain you mail or fax the original form to the correct IRS service center, as photocopies won’t be accepted. Don’t forget to check that you’ve included all required information, such as accurate contact details for an officer, to guarantee smooth communication with the IRS. Submission Methods Overview Submitting Form 2553 is a vital step for ensuring your corporation is recognized as an S corporation, and you need to follow specific methods to do it correctly. Here’s how you can submit your completed form: Mail or Fax: The only accepted submission methods are by mail or fax; online submissions aren’t allowed. Original Forms Only: Make sure you send an original form since photocopies won’t be processed. Send to the Right IRS Center: Refer to page 3 of the form’s instructions to find out where to fax Form 2553 based on your principal business location. Timeliness Matters: File within two months and 15 days after your tax year begins to maintain S corporation status. For late submissions, include an explanation at the top. Required Information Checklist To successfully submit Form 2553 and elect S corporation status, you’ll need to gather specific information about your corporation. Start with the corporation’s name, address, Employer Identification Number (EIN), incorporation date, and the state of incorporation. Ascertain all shareholders consent to the S corporation status by providing their signatures on the S corporation form 2553. Remember, you must mail or fax the completed form to the appropriate IRS service center; online submission isn’t allowed. Timeliness is critical; file Form 2553 within two months and 15 days after the tax year begins for your election to be effective. If you’re filing late, include a statement explaining the delay and mark “FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2013-30” at the top. What Is the Deadline to Submit 2553? When you’re looking to file Form 2553 for S corporation status, it’s essential to be aware of the deadlines. You need to submit this form within two months and 15 days after your tax year begins, or by March 15 if you’re aiming for 2023. If you miss this deadline, you might still qualify by showing reasonable cause, but you’ll need to follow specific guidelines for late submissions. S-Corp Election Timeline Comprehending the S-Corp election timeline is vital for any corporation aiming to benefit from S corporation status. To guarantee you submit the S corp election form on time, keep these key deadlines in mind: Form 2553 must be filed within two months and 15 days after the start of your tax year for it to be effective. For the 2023 tax year, the deadline is March 15, 2023. You can likewise elect S corporation status anytime during the preceding tax year by submitting Form 2553. If you miss the deadline, late filing may be accepted under specific conditions, so include a reasonable cause statement. Timely submission of Form 2553 is vital to maintain eligibility for S corporation benefits. Late Filing Relief Options Although missing the deadline to submit Form 2553 can be stressful, there are relief options available for late filings that can help you still achieve S corporation status. If you missed the March 15, 2023, deadline, you can file Form 2553 late by demonstrating reasonable cause for the delay. Be sure to mark your form with “FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2013-30” and include a signed statement of reasonable cause from all shareholders. It’s essential to report income as if you’d filed on time, regardless of your election being late. If you need to send your form quickly, you can use the 2553 fax number provided by the IRS for expedited processing. Filing Form 2553 Late Filing Form 2553 late can pose challenges for S corporations seeking S corporation status, but options are available to rectify the situation. If you miss the deadline, here’s what you can do: Demonstrate Reasonable Cause: Explain why you were late and how it was beyond your control. Shareholder Agreement: Make certain every shareholder has reported their income as if you were already an S corporation. Label Your Submission: Clearly write “FILED PURSUANT TO REV. PROC. 2013-30” at the top of your late Form 2553. Include Shareholder Signatures: All shareholders must sign the form to show consent for the late filing. After completing these steps, know where to mail Form 2553 to guarantee it reaches the right office. This process allows your corporation to seek relief and potentially gain the benefits of S corporation status in spite of the delay. Benefits of Filing as an S-Corp When you choose to file as an S corporation, you reveal several important benefits that can improve your business’s financial health. One major advantage is avoiding double taxation; your income is only taxed at the individual shareholder level. This pass-through taxation allows you to report profits and losses on your personal tax returns, potentially lowering your overall tax liabilities. If your business incurs losses, you can deduct them on your personal returns, which is particularly beneficial in the early years. Furthermore, with a limit of 100 shareholders, decision-making often becomes more streamlined and personal. Filing Form 2553 is crucial to gain these benefits and maintain your S-Corp status. Finally, S-Corps offer limited liability protection, safeguarding your personal assets from business debts while enhancing your company’s credibility with clients and vendors. After Filing: What Next? After you’ve filed Form 2553 and received confirmation from the IRS regarding your S corporation status, it’s essential to understand the next steps to secure compliance and proper operation. Here’s what you should do next: Report Income: Shareholders must report their share of the corporation’s income, deductions, and credits on personal tax returns as soon as the S corporation status takes effect. Maintain Records: Keep accurate records of your S corporation’s financial activities for future tax reporting and compliance. Review Documents: Update your legal documents and operating agreements to reflect the new tax status and guarantee compliance with all regulations. Late Filing Relief: If you filed Form 2553 late, include a statement explaining the delay, signed by all shareholders, to qualify for late election relief. Frequently Asked Questions Is My LLC an S or C Corp? To determine if your LLC is an S or C corporation, check how you filed your taxes. By default, an LLC is treated as a C corporation except if you filed IRS Form 2553 to elect S corporation status. If you meet eligibility criteria, like having up to 100 shareholders and one class of stock, you might qualify for S status, which allows for pass-through taxation, avoiding double taxation on corporate income. What Is a Small Business Corporation? A small business corporation, often called an S corporation, allows you to pass profits directly to shareholders without corporate income tax. To qualify, your business must be a domestic corporation with up to 100 shareholders, all U.S. citizens or residents. S corporations can only issue one class of stock, limiting equity types. What Makes a Small Business a Corporation? To make a small business a corporation, you must formally register it with the state, choosing a corporate structure such as an S corporation. This involves filing specific documents, like articles of incorporation, which outline your business purpose and structure. You’ll furthermore need to issue shares and adhere to regulations, including maintaining corporate formalities. How Do I Know if I Am an S Corp? To determine if you’re an S corporation, check if you’ve filed IRS Form 2553 and received approval. Your business must likewise meet specific criteria, including having no more than 100 shareholders, all of whom are U.S. citizens or residents. Furthermore, guarantee you maintain one class of stock and comply with IRS regulations. If you fail to meet these requirements, you might lose your S corp status, so stay informed and compliant. Conclusion In conclusion, IRS Form 2553 is vital for small businesses seeking S corporation status, offering significant tax advantages and limited liability. To qualify, your business must meet specific eligibility requirements, and timely submission is important. If you’ve missed the deadline, there are options for late filing. After submitting, you can enjoy the benefits of pass-through taxation and simplified decision-making. Comprehending this process is key to maximizing your business’s financial potential as you remain compliant with IRS regulations. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What Is a Small Business Corporation Form?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Adobe is redefining how small businesses can leverage technology to enhance customer experience with the expansion of its partner ecosystem. Announced during the Adobe Summit in Las Vegas, this initiative aims to streamline workflows through an innovative AI-driven system, the Adobe CX Enterprise. This expansion promises to provide small business owners with the tools they need to deliver personalized customer experiences efficiently and effectively. With over 20,000 global brands already relying on Adobe’s platforms, the CX Enterprise is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing business operations, making it a compelling choice for small business owners looking to enhance their customer engagement strategies. “Marketers shouldn’t have to choose between their organization’s AI tools and the marketing capabilities required to drive impactful outcomes,” said Amit Ahuja, Senior Vice President of Product for Customer Experience Orchestration at Adobe. This statement highlights Adobe’s commitment to providing flexibility and choice, which is essential for small businesses often constrained by resources. The new Adobe CX Enterprise leverages agentic AI to streamline the customer lifecycle management. By automating repetitive tasks and providing AI-driven insights, small businesses can focus on what matters most—building relationships with customers. The introduction of the Adobe CX Enterprise Coworker will allow users to execute tasks aligned with business objectives, simplifying workflows and enhancing productivity. One of the significant advantages of this new system is its integration with widely used platforms. Adobe’s partnership with major companies like Microsoft and Amazon means that small businesses can access powerful marketing intelligence directly within the tools they already use. For instance, Adobe Marketing Agent is now generally available in Microsoft 365 Copilot, enabling users to optimize customer journeys and analyze campaign performance without switching tools. This could significantly reduce time spent on administrative tasks, allowing small business owners to concentrate on strategy and creative initiatives. The focus on interoperability is crucial for small businesses that often utilize a mix of tools and platforms. By facilitating seamless connections between Adobe’s tools and those from partners such as AWS, Google Cloud, and OpenAI, Adobe aims to eliminate the fragmentation that can hinder productivity. This integration means that small business owners can leverage Adobe’s capabilities without overhauling their entire tech stack, which can be both costly and time-consuming. However, while the benefits are clear, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. The integration of advanced AI tools requires a certain level of digital literacy and may necessitate training for staff. Additionally, as the market for AI-driven customer experience tools continues to grow, small businesses will need to stay informed about best practices and ensure they are leveraging these tools effectively to avoid falling behind competitors. Adobe’s partnerships with leading agencies and system integrators also highlight a trend that small businesses can tap into. By collaborating with experts in the field, these agencies can help small businesses implement tailored solutions that meet their unique needs. This collaborative approach can lead to more effective customer engagement strategies and ultimately drive growth. Adobe’s expansion into the agentic AI space represents a significant opportunity for small businesses looking to enhance their customer experience capabilities. By adopting these advanced tools, small business owners can not only streamline their workflows but also create more meaningful interactions with their customers. As the landscape of customer experience continues to evolve, staying ahead of technological advancements will be key to sustaining competitive advantage and driving long-term success. You can find the original release at Adobe’s Newsroom. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Adobe Enhances Partner Ecosystem to Streamline Customer Experience Workflows" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Adobe is redefining how small businesses can leverage technology to enhance customer experience with the expansion of its partner ecosystem. Announced during the Adobe Summit in Las Vegas, this initiative aims to streamline workflows through an innovative AI-driven system, the Adobe CX Enterprise. This expansion promises to provide small business owners with the tools they need to deliver personalized customer experiences efficiently and effectively. With over 20,000 global brands already relying on Adobe’s platforms, the CX Enterprise is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing business operations, making it a compelling choice for small business owners looking to enhance their customer engagement strategies. “Marketers shouldn’t have to choose between their organization’s AI tools and the marketing capabilities required to drive impactful outcomes,” said Amit Ahuja, Senior Vice President of Product for Customer Experience Orchestration at Adobe. This statement highlights Adobe’s commitment to providing flexibility and choice, which is essential for small businesses often constrained by resources. The new Adobe CX Enterprise leverages agentic AI to streamline the customer lifecycle management. By automating repetitive tasks and providing AI-driven insights, small businesses can focus on what matters most—building relationships with customers. The introduction of the Adobe CX Enterprise Coworker will allow users to execute tasks aligned with business objectives, simplifying workflows and enhancing productivity. One of the significant advantages of this new system is its integration with widely used platforms. Adobe’s partnership with major companies like Microsoft and Amazon means that small businesses can access powerful marketing intelligence directly within the tools they already use. For instance, Adobe Marketing Agent is now generally available in Microsoft 365 Copilot, enabling users to optimize customer journeys and analyze campaign performance without switching tools. This could significantly reduce time spent on administrative tasks, allowing small business owners to concentrate on strategy and creative initiatives. The focus on interoperability is crucial for small businesses that often utilize a mix of tools and platforms. By facilitating seamless connections between Adobe’s tools and those from partners such as AWS, Google Cloud, and OpenAI, Adobe aims to eliminate the fragmentation that can hinder productivity. This integration means that small business owners can leverage Adobe’s capabilities without overhauling their entire tech stack, which can be both costly and time-consuming. However, while the benefits are clear, small business owners should also consider potential challenges. The integration of advanced AI tools requires a certain level of digital literacy and may necessitate training for staff. Additionally, as the market for AI-driven customer experience tools continues to grow, small businesses will need to stay informed about best practices and ensure they are leveraging these tools effectively to avoid falling behind competitors. Adobe’s partnerships with leading agencies and system integrators also highlight a trend that small businesses can tap into. By collaborating with experts in the field, these agencies can help small businesses implement tailored solutions that meet their unique needs. This collaborative approach can lead to more effective customer engagement strategies and ultimately drive growth. Adobe’s expansion into the agentic AI space represents a significant opportunity for small businesses looking to enhance their customer experience capabilities. By adopting these advanced tools, small business owners can not only streamline their workflows but also create more meaningful interactions with their customers. As the landscape of customer experience continues to evolve, staying ahead of technological advancements will be key to sustaining competitive advantage and driving long-term success. You can find the original release at Adobe’s Newsroom. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Adobe Enhances Partner Ecosystem to Streamline Customer Experience Workflows" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A judge is expected to sentence OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to forfeit $225 million to the Justice Department on Tuesday, clearing the way for the company to finalize a settlement of thousands of lawsuits it faces over its role in the opioid crisis. The penalty was agreed to in a 2020 pact to resolve federal civil and criminal probes it was facing. If the judge signs off, other penalties will not be collected in return for Purdue settling the other lawsuits. After years of legal twists and turns, the settlement was approved by another judge last year and could take effect May 1. It requires members of the Sackler family who own the company to pay up to $7 billion to state, local and Native American tribal governments, some individual victims and others. Here’s a look at the situation. The sentence was years in the making Purdue pleaded guilty to three federal criminal charges in November 2020. The Stamford, Connecticut-based company admitted that it did not have an effective program to keep its powerful prescription painkillers from being diverted to the black market, even though it told the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that it did. It also admitted that it paid doctors through a speakers program to prescribe the drugs and paid an electronic medical records company to send doctors information on patients that encouraged more opioid prescriptions. While Purdue produced only a fraction of the opioid pills that flooded the market in the 2000s, advocates have long seen aggressive sales of OxyContin as one of the touchstones of the crisis. At a 1996 event to rally Purdue’s sales force, Richard Sackler, then a top Purdue executive and later president of the company, called for a “blizzard of prescriptions.” While Purdue is expected to pay $225 million, the government agreed in the plea deal not to collect $5.3 billion in criminal forfeitures and fines and $2.8 billion in civil liabilities. Instead, portions of that money are considered part of the broader settlement — and the federal government will receive a small slice of that. Up to $7 billion from Sackler family members The broader settlement calls for members of the Sackler family who own the company to contribute up to $7 billion over 15 years. Most of the money is to go to government entities to use to fight the opioid crisis. It’s among the largest in a series of settlements by drugmakers, wholesalers and pharmacies in recent years — and the only major one that includes payments for some individual victims or their survivors. Together, the settlements are worth more than $50 billion, and most of the money is to be used to address the overdose epidemic. Under the Purdue deal, members of the Sackler family would be shielded from lawsuits over opioids from those who agree to the payments. Purdue itself would cease to exist and be replaced by a new company, Knoa Pharma, which would operate for the public benefit and have a board appointed by the states. The reorganization is considered one of the most complicated ever. By the end of last year, Purdue had paid law firms and other professionals working on all sides of the case more than $1 billion, according to a court filing. The sentencing doesn’t include the company’s owners Members of the Sackler family have long been cast as villains in the opioid crisis, seeking to increase profits even as it became clear people were becoming addicted to OxyContin and overdosing. But no members of the family were charged. Family members received $10.7 billion in payments from Purdue from 2008 to 2018. They have not been paid by the company since 2018 — and the last of them left Purdue’s board in 2019. Under the settlement, they would not object if their names are removed from museums and other institutions they’ve supported — something that’s already been happening. Some victims are pushing for prosecutions More than 54,000 people with personal injury claims against Purdue voted to accept the settlement, and 218 voted against it. Still, some victims and their family members have been pushing back for years, asserting that the settlement and the guilty plea stop short of justice for victims of a crisis that has been linked to 900,000 deaths in the U.S. since 1999. Tuesday’s sentencing is one more chance for them to make that case to a judge. Susan Ousterman’s son, Tyler Cordiero, died at age 24 in 2020 after overdosing on a mixture that included fentanyl after years of using heroin and other opioids. She organized others who lost loved ones to deliver victim impact statements to the court ahead of the sentencing. She said the aim was to persuade the judge to reject the plea deal and for the U.S. Justice Department to pursue criminal charges against individuals, including Sackler family members. “It shouldn’t be going to states and municipalities,” said Ousterman, noting some governments have not yet used the funds they’re received and others have used it in ways not closely linked to fighting the drug crisis. “They’re not using that money effectively.” Associated Press reporter Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this article. —Geoff Mulvihill, Associated Press View the full article