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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

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

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

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Soundcore Boom 2 is down to $89.98 on Amazon, a solid drop from its usual $139.99 and, according to price trackers, the lowest it has been so far. It has an IPX7 rating and can float, so it is fine around pools or at the beach without needing constant attention. If it falls into the water, it will come back up on its own—your music will cut out while it is submerged, since Bluetooth cannot transmit through water—but in most situations, the bigger advantage is that the speaker itself survives without any issues. Soundcore Boom 2 Portable Bluetooth speaker $89.99 at Amazon $139.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Get Deal $89.99 at Amazon $139.99 Save $50.00 Sound-wise, the Boom 2 delivers up to 80 watts through a setup that includes two tweeters and a dedicated woofer, which is enough to fill a large room or carry across an outdoor space. There’s also a BassUp feature that boosts the low end, and turning it off noticeably reduces the impact, so you will likely want to keep it on for a fuller, heavier sound. You can also pair a second unit for stereo sound, though it is limited to Bluetooth since there’s no wifi support. There is also a built-in light system that syncs with your music. It adds a bit of atmosphere at night, though it also drains the battery faster. Speaking of, battery life is rated at up to 24 hours, but that figure assumes moderate volume with lights and bass boost turned off. In real use, especially at higher volumes, expect less. Charging takes about five and a half hours over USB-C, which works best as an overnight recharge rather than a quick top-up. That said, the design focuses more on durability than refinement, and the sound, while loud, does not have the same balance you get from speakers like the JBL Flip 6 or Sony SRS-XB23, especially in the mids and highs. The companion app helps by letting you adjust the EQ and control the lighting, which gives you some flexibility to shape the sound. Still, this is not meant for detailed listening sessions or for someone who prioritizes audio precision, notes this PCMag review. It works best for people who want a speaker that can handle unpredictable environments, play loud without much effort, and keep going through a full day of use. 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

Picture this: Your company relies on Data Studio for SEO reporting. It’s right before your next big meeting when you’re planning to present results… but Data Studio has an outage (again) and suddenly you have nothing to show. That’s embarrassing. And it happens more than it should. It wasn’t even a year ago that I touted the benefits of Looker Studio (now Data Studio) for SEO reporting. Now the platform feels archaic compared to the agentic coding tools available today. Here’s how rigid SEO dashboards like those produced in Data Studio are holding you back and why code-driven SEO reporting is the only way to remain efficient and competitive. The problem with Data Studio In the not-too-distant past, Data Studio was considered one of the best ways to customize SEO reporting. But things have evolved, and with new technology at our fingertips, Data Studio’s flaws are only becoming more pronounced. Here are some common issues that you may recognize when generating reports using Data Studio. It’s easy to explode your dataset, and then everything breaks You assume Data Studio can handle massive “Google-scale” data, but it’s buggy. For example, there are low limits on rows and fields, and even adding a few dimensions or joining multiple data sources can break the report at the worst times. You’re manually clicking through a slow interface Every change in Data Studio requires manual updates. You’re clicking, refreshing and waiting to see whether it worked. That makes iteration painfully slow. Even with added AI features, they only address a small part of the report development workflow. Relatedly, debugging reports is a nightmare Whereas agents can simply scan files with code-based reports, in Data Studio, a user has to laboriously click around the interface. The API is weak Like a lot of Google services, Data Studio isn’t built as an API-first platform. This is something Google got institutionally wrong decades ago. Not being able to manage the platform using external tools creates bottlenecks. Despite its recent rebrand, Data Studio hasn’t become any more relevant — not with the technologies that are now in play for SEO reporting. But it’s not just Data Studio. Really, what SEO teams are up against is the rigidity of any dashboard-based reporting tool. Now all that is changing. 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 What’s changed: AI, APIs, and coding The shift away from rigid SEO dashboards is now possible because large language models are becoming more capable of generating reliable code, and APIs are accessible across many platforms. This has led to the rise of AI-driven coding tools, including Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, and Gemini CLI. At a high level, it works like this: You describe what you want in your SEO report, and they handle the heavy lifting. These tools are “agentic” because they can execute multi-step workflows like pulling data, transforming it, analyzing it, and then generating reports with minimal intervention. You don’t need advanced coding skills to use them, but a basic understanding of data structures and APIs will make the process effective. In practice, the entire reporting workflow can be done programmatically from start to finish. They generate code that connects directly to data sources through APIs, removing the need to rely on dashboard connectors or preconfigured data pipelines. From there, they can analyze the data and create full reports. This can happen in minutes as you become more familiar with the tools. While each of the tools I mentioned has different strengths (for instance, some are better at reasoning, others at speed or integrations), they essentially do the same thing: transform SEO reporting from a manual, rigid process into something with endless possibilities. The power of this technology is hard to overstate. Why AI coding tools are better for SEO teams AI coding tools are removing the roadblocks between data, development, and reporting for SEO teams. Faster SEO reporting and analysis Speed is the most obvious advantage. Agentic coding assistants are enabling SEOs to create reports that previously required support from developers. In many cases, tasks that previously took days can be done in hours and tasks that took hours can be done in minutes. You can see this improvement even in small interactions. For example, when data is processed directly in the browser (instead of re-querying a dashboard), it makes filtering, sorting, and slicing data significantly faster. Instead of waiting for a dashboard to refresh after every change, you can interact with the data in real time. That’s just one way these technologies make you more agile. Flexible and custom reporting workflows Instead of having to work in predefined templates and a fixed structure, you can build the report for exactly what the situation requires. Plus, every major data visualization and plotting library is available on demand in any programming language. If you feel like one approach isn’t capturing the whole story in your SEO report, you can switch or combine multiple frameworks in the same output. From rankings and traffic trends to keyword clusters or content performance, you can apply nearly any chart. The examples below come from Observable Plot, created by data visualization expert Mike Bostock, but many other charting libraries are available. While setup and onboarding take some initial effort, these tools are accessible to most roles on the team and immediately become more efficient than traditional reporting. Transparent data constraints Data limitations are clearer, too. For example, when you’re working with browser-based charting libraries, you have a better feel for how many rows you’re handling and what the system can realistically process. And when you do hit a limit, you understand exactly what’s happening and how to adjust. This helps prevent misleading or incomplete reporting. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. Real-world SEO reporting applications What are some practical ways you can use these agentic coding assistants to run SEO reporting? Pre-meeting reports Before client meetings, you can pull data from Google Search Console and GA4 via APIs, then have it cleaned and segmented programmatically and generate a notebook, dashboard or slide deck in a single workflow. Technical SEO analysis Say you need to analyze crawl data or log files. Instead of exporting, filtering, and then visualizing the data manually, you could get the raw data, process it with code, and generate custom visualizations tailored to the exact problem you’re trying to solve. Ad hoc stakeholder requests Once data connections are established, last-minute reporting requests no longer have to mean staying up late to pull data and build reports. The next time someone asks for something like “non-brand CTR trends by device over the last 90 days,” you can produce this data with much less effort. Really, if you can imagine it, you can do it with these agentic coding assistants. As a result, SEO teams can do more proactive analyses. What this means for agencies and in-house teams AI is impacting all knowledge workers, not just SEOs. By now, many have seen the viral article “Something Big Is Happening” by Matt Shumer, which paints a startling picture about the future of AI-powered work and adopting an “adapt or die” mentality. Research is beginning to show how these types of technologies are impacting productivity. One study by Stanford and MIT researchers found that access to AI tools in the workplace increases productivity by at least 14% on average, with a 34% increase for low-skilled workers. The bottom line is that anything that can be generated with code is going to be eaten by these CLI tools and agents, because they’re just so much faster. Businesses are catching on. Up to 64% of businesses now generate a majority of their code with AI assistance, according to a Business Insider report, and high-adoption teams are producing nearly double the output. For SEO teams, they’re experiencing faster reporting cycles, more iterative analyses, and the ability to handle more complex data. AI coding assistants are also helping analysts become builders. Non-technical users can build and iterate in ways that were previously out of reach. Ultimately, this shift is becoming table stakes. The SEO teams that integrate these tools into their workflows will move faster and produce better results. The competitive advantage is going to those who adopt these technologies first. Where to begin, though? Consider piloting a small project: Start with one repeatable reporting workflow. Connect a data source like Google Search Console via API. Test and refine a single report before expanding to other use cases. 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 future of SEO reporting is agentic and code-driven Traditional SEO reporting tools are quickly becoming a bottleneck. AI coding assistants are helping SEO teams respond to any type of reporting without the added friction, while delivering faster, better insights. The companies that adapt will gain the advantage in SEO execution. Start by replacing one recurring report with a code-driven workflow and build from there. View the full article

Picture this: You’re at the gate, shoes pinching after a long walk through the terminal, and you know you packed your flats. They’re right there, somewhere in your carry-on. But getting to them means hoisting the bag onto a bench, unzipping the clamshell, and watching your carefully packed clothes threaten to spill out onto the airport floor. By the time you’ve wrestled the bag back together, your flight is boarding. It’s a scenario that has played out in airports for decades—because for all the advances in materials and wheels and tracking technology, the fundamental architecture of the carry-on suitcase has barely changed. Open from the middle, split in half, dig around, repack, repeat. July, the 7-year-old Australian travel brand that has built a following by rethinking luggage design, is betting there’s a better way. On April 23, the company launches the Capsule Carry-On, a $395 bag built around a top-down packing system, with a lid that opens at the top rather than splitting the bag in half. It’s a bet that goes beyond product design: As competitors fold and struggle, July believes that real engineering breakthroughs—not just new colorways—are what keep a luggage brand alive. It’s a design shift that sounds simple, but it wasn’t. It required solving a complex engineering problem. Standard carry-ons are made from polycarbonate sheets vacuum-formed into shape. The sheets must have a certain thickness, otherwise the plastic weakens. That’s a problem when your design calls for a deep base and a slim lid. July’s solution was to engineer a single-piece formed shell that has a consistent thickness throughout—a manufacturing feat that required close collaboration with its factory partners to pull off. July’s design team is constantly gathering feedback from travelers as it develops products. The insight that drove this design came from conversations with Quantas flight attendants, who regularly need to swap shoes mid-shift but have nowhere to lay a suitcase down in the galley of an aircraft. July’s answer was to create the “QuickGrab” feature—a pocket that’s accessible when you open the lid of the Capsule, allowing you to quickly access items inside your bag. “If you want to switch from heels to flats or grab a . . . jumper, you can just quickly grab it while standing up,” says July cofounder Athan Didaskalou. The format also transforms the experience at your destination. With a clamshell suitcase, you need enough space to unzip it so you can access both compartments. They don’t fit on most hotel luggage racks. If you’re in a tiny New York hotel, there may not be enough space anywhere but the bed. “You know you’ve been rolling your suitcase across dirty streets, but you have no choice but to place it on your clean new bedsheets,” Didaskalou says. With the Capsule design, you can simply put the bag down and open the lid. It takes up roughly half the footprint. Didaskalou also says it changes the kinds of items you can pack. You can lay a hat or a basketball inside the suitcase and simply close the top. With a clamshell, these items would be crushed by the middle divider. “It’s a small reconfiguration of space, but it opens up a range of possibilities,” he says. Two more features round out the redesign. Travelers complained about suitcases rolling away on train platforms and inclined airport walkways, so July engineered “SilentMove”: lockable wheels controlled by a small switch at the handle base. And the bag ships with CaseSafe, July’s Transportation Security Administration-compliant lock with integrated tracking via Apple Find My and Google Find My Device. Didaskalou says innovation has been core to July’s business model, and nowhere is that more valued than in the Asia Pacific markets where the brand does significant business. July is opening stores in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur this year. “As an Australian brand, our domestic market is small, roughly 25 million people, so we need to have a global outlook,” he says. “We’ve found that in the Asian market, they love these little engineering details.” That focus on product has also become a survival strategy. Paravel, a sustainability-focused luggage startup, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. Away, once valued at $1.4 billion, has gone through multiple rounds of layoffs. Both companies grew fast on VC capital, then struggled to turn a profit. July took a different path. “In Australia, we don’t have as much access to capital, so we focus on the old-school business tactics of growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction,” Didaskalou says. “We can’t just change the color of the suitcase and hope it gets people excited.” View the full article

SEO tools are useful, but over-relying on them creates blind spots. Here's what raw data reveals that tools never will. The post What’s The Biggest Technical SEO Blind Spot From Over-Relying On Tools? – Ask An SEO appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

AI-powered digital assistants continue to expand into new areas and add more capabilities at a rapid pace, and alongside the big names in the business, there are also some independent projects worth keeping an eye on. Case in point: Clicky, a lightweight, versatile AI bot that floats right next to your cursor on macOS (via XDA Developers). In return for your email address, you can have Clicky keep you company while you do whatever it is you're doing on your Mac, and via some smart screen capture tech, it can give you context-sensitive help whenever it's required. It's the work of Farza Majeed, and runs on Claude AI. The code has even been open-sourced, so you can play around with it yourself and adapt it to suit your needs—or just download and run the regular version for normal people. Getting to know Clicky You can speak or type to Clicky. Credit: Lifehacker Once you've set up Clicky on your Mac, you'll get a brief introduction from Majeed. It explains how Clicky works, introduces the default keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Option), and takes you through the necessary steps of giving Clicky permission to access your screen. These permissions are required for Clicky to see what you're doing, but Majeed says screen capture is only enabled when you press the shortcut keys, and is only used temporarily to give you relevant responses. You can also quit Clicky at any time: Click its menu icon, then the cog icon, then Quit Clicky. The same menu bar panel reminds you of the keyboard shortcut you need to activate it (which you can't change at the moment), and lets you cycle between four different colors for the Clicky flag. This flag floats next to the macOS cursor at all times. This does take some getting used to, but it didn't take long before I stopped really noticing it. During the Clicky intro, you're encouraged to introduce yourself to the AI tool. You can chat with it in the same way you'd chat to Claude on the web or in a mobile app: You can explain who you are, ask questions about anything you like, and get Clicky to look up the latest news headlines on the web, for example. The context-sensitive help functions are where Clicky really shines. As the tool is always with you whatever you're doing, you can get instant assistance on a task, whether you're trying to find something on the web or manipulate photos. And if you don't want to talk, just double-tap Ctrl to type and get text responses instead. What Clicky can do Clicky will point out menus, dialogs, and options. Credit: Lifehacker I've been trying Clicky with all kinds of commands, and it's been excellent so far: It's quick, to the point, and friendly. Ask a question like "how do I change my desktop wallpaper?" and Clicky will not only tell you the steps, it'll move your cursor to the starting point so all you have to do is click. To continue the wallpaper example, you're able to query anything on System Settings—such as the Clock Appearance button—and have Clicky explain to you what the button means and how you can use it. I asked about a toggle switch on these dialogs, and Clicky gave me a brief primer on it, as well as reasons why I might or might not want to have it enabled. I also tried a bit of image manipulation in Photoshop, and Clicky worked very well here, too. It remembers where you're up to in a task, will point out the menus, buttons, and sliders you need to use on screen, and can give advice about the best way to get a particular result—all powered by Claude's knowledge base. Clicky comes in handy when browsing the web as well. You can ask everything from "is this a trustworthy website?" (it decided Lifehacker is), to "can you summarize this website for me?" and the AI assistant obliges. Clicky will also help if you need to know how to do something in your browser (like clear your browsing history). These are early days for Clicky, and I wonder how it might work with less well-known apps and workflows. Some extra customizations would also be welcome. But I've already found it to be genuinely useful, especially when it comes to finding out how to learn to do something inside an app, without having to look up the answer online. It's easy to see how Apple and Microsoft might eventually add tools like this of their own. View the full article

Yesterday, Apple announced that its longtime CEO, Tim Cook, will step down in September, with John Ternus, the current senior vice president of hardware engineering, taking over. The move marks the first change in Apple’s chief executive since Cook assumed the role from Steve Jobs in 2011. However, while the prior chief executive shakeup saw Apple Inc.’s stock (Nasdaq: AAPL) get shaken up too, shares in the company are relatively stable this time, at least for now. Here’s what you need to know. What’s happened? Yesterday, after the markets closed, Apple dropped a bombshell: its longtime CEO, Tim Cook, will be stepping down. Stepping into the role is John Ternus, the company’s current hardware engineering chief. Normally, even at smaller companies, CEO shakeups make investors nervous. No one likes uncertainty after all. But at a company the size and value of Apple, a CEO change is monumental, introducing a range of uncertainties about how the business will operate going forward. These uncertainties can lead investors to sell off the company’s stock—at least until they have a better grasp of the situation. And indeed, during Apple’s last CEO shakeup, that’s exactly what happened. On August 24, 2011, Apple announced that Steve Jobs would be relinquishing his role as CEO and that Tim Cook would assume the position. As a result of that announcement, AAPL shares immediately fell more than 6%. But that dramatic price drop in AAPL’s share price is completely absent this time around. As of this writing, AAPL shares are currently trading relatively flat, down just two-tenths of a percent. That’s the same type of premarket fluctuations you see on any normal, non-news trading day. So why are investors taking the CEO shakeup in stride? There are three likely answers. Apple isn’t a one-man band anymore The first reason investors are likely handling the news of a new Apple CEO better than they did the last one is Steve Jobs himself. Back in 2011, Apple was considered virtually indistinguishable from Steve Jobs. Not only did Jobs cofound the company, but after he returned to it in the late 1990s, he led it to become the most influential tech company in existence. In the roughly 10 years before his resignation, Jobs’s Apple transformed the consumer tech landscape with the iMac, iPod, and iPhone. At the time, many investors worried that Apple’s continued success relied on Jobs’s innovative vision. They had much less faith in the team of other visionaries and innovators that Jobs had assembled. But since then, Cook and Apple’s other top talent have proven those investor worries were overblown. While Jobs’s impact on Apple and the broader tech industry is clear, it is now also clear that Apple is more than just one man, and its ranks are packed with competent individuals who have helped drive the company to heights Jobs could not have dreamed of. The Ternus factor Apple’s choice for its new CEO is also another reason why investors aren’t pulling their hair out. Reports suggest that John Ternus is well-liked at the company and is known as being a hardware-focused and decisive leader. But Ternus also has another thing going for him: his age. As I wrote last year, Ternus is only 50 years old, which means he has the potential to be in the CEO role as long as Tim Cook. Investors like stability, and they are likely encouraged by the fact that Ternus’s age means Apple won’t need to consider hiring a new CEO in the next five or 10 years. A third plus in the Ternus column is that he was widely assumed to be the person most likely to step into the CEO role after Cook’s departure. This long-term assumption led to many investors getting comfortable with the idea, leading to less of a shock factor. Cook will stay on to manage government relations I have always seen Cook’s tenure as CEO as one of the best things that has ever happened to Apple. During his reign, he took the company from being worth hundreds of billions to over $4 trillion. But Cook has also proved himself adept in areas other than sales and revenue growth, including government relations, particularly in the The President era in America, though also in China, Apple’s second-largest market. Apple under Cook may have been able to dictate terms to its business partners, but not to governments. And in an era of constantly changing regulations and trade objectives, successfully liaising with government leaders is arguably as important to a company as sales. Tim Cook has proven himself time and time again as one of the most adept business leaders at engaging with political leaders—a skill he has had the time to hone. But even though Cook is stepping down as CEO, Apple won’t lose its most experienced government liaison. In announcing Cook’s departure, the company was careful to say that, in his new role as executive chairman, Cook will continue “engaging with policymakers around the world.” That single line item likely caused many investors to breathe a sigh of relief that Apple was not losing its president whisperer. AAPL stock holding steady on Apple CEO news The three reasons above are likely heavily contributing to AAPL’s stock price stability this morning. As of the time of this writing, AAPL shares are currently down just 0.15% to $272.65, making them essentially flat for the year. Over the past year, AAPL shares have risen more than 38%. But the real story is Apple’s share price over Tim Cook’s tenure. When Tim Cook stepped into his role as Apple CEO, the company’s stock traded at a split-adjusted price of around $12 per share. Since that time, AAPL’s stock price has risen by more than 1,900% during Cook’s tenure. That’s an increase investors will be hoping Ternus can replicate. View the full article

Donald The President’s pick to lead central bank to tell lawmakers the independence of rate-setters is not ‘particularly threatened’View the full article

You can go through most of your life without worrying about whether and how you’re breathing, but as soon as somebody mentions that you’re supposed to breathe a certain way in the gym, it’s easy to get tripped up. Out when? In when? Oops, I held my breath instead—is that bad? As with anything else in the exercise world, there are different recommendations for different people doing different things. If you’ve heard conflicting advice, don’t worry, we’ll sort it out. First I'll address whether you should breathe during lifts, and then we'll talk about how to breathe. Should I hold my breath when I’m lifting weights?I don’t breathe during most of my lifts. I spend most of my time in the gym doing big compound lifts: squats, deadlifts, snatches, cleans. I wear a belt for most of them. And I brace my core hard while I do them. For these lifts, the valsalva maneuver is a powerful tool. That’s the fancy name for building pressure in your torso by holding your breath. You’ve probably done it on the toilet at some point. Between my belt, my braced core, and the pressure of the air in my lungs, I’m doing a lot to stabilize my torso and protect my spine from injury. I’m also able to lift more weight this way than if I didn’t brace or hold my breath. Watch any competitive powerlifter’s face turn tomato-red during a squat, and you’ll know they’re doing it, too. While this is safe for most people, most of the time, some people shouldn’t hold their breath while lifting for safety reasons. The valsalva can increase blood pressure temporarily, and it can result in dizziness and even blacking out, especially if you hold the pressure for more than a few seconds. The American Heart Association recommends that beginners and people with cardiovascular disease not hold their breath during lifting. The valsalva is also not recommended during pregnancy, because the increased pressure poses risks to the placenta. (If you have any questions about whether you personally shouldn’t hold your breath while lifting, talk to your medical provider.) If you do use the valsalva, you’ll hold your breath during each rep, and you’ll stop to exhale and inhale between reps (for example, when you’re standing up in between squats). One way to remember this is to pretend that you're squatting in a pool of water that comes up to your chest. You hold your breath while you're "underwater," and take your next breath once you're standing up again. If I breathe while lifting weights, how should I do it?First, there’s not really a wrong answer to how to breathe, but there is a rule of thumb that will help most of the time. You’ll want to breathe out during the hardest part of the exercise, and breathe in when the exercise is easier. This generally means exhaling during the concentric contraction (lifting the weight) and inhaling during the eccentric (lowering it down). If you forget, just ask yourself which part of the exercise is hardest. So let’s say you’re squatting. You can breathe in while you’re lowering yourself down, and then breathe out while you’re on the way up. The hardest part of the squat—the sticking point, it’s often called—is just after you start going up. How about a deadlift? The hardest part of the movement is while you’re lifting the bar up, so exhale there. You can inhale while you’re lowering the bar down. View the full article

Demand Gen campaigns have high visibility across YouTube, Discover, and Gmail. However, they pose a key challenge: the “attribution illusion.” You’ll often question whether reported conversions in the platform are truly incremental or if these users would’ve converted through search either way. That’s why in November, Google launched asset uplift experiments, giving you the ability to measure the impact of Demand Gen creative through an A/B split test. This means you can replace assumptions with a clearer view of what’s actually driving incremental results. Relying too heavily on creative instinct or default reporting can lead you down an inefficient path and divert valuable creative resources toward poor-performing assets. Using Google’s A/B testing capabilities helps you isolate the impact of individual assets and avoid that outcome. Why attribution doesn’t equal incrementality If a user views a Demand Gen ad on YouTube and doesn’t click but then searches for the brand and converts, Google may attribute partial or full credit to the Demand Gen campaign and creative. This attribution more so reflects correlation rather than causation. Accurate measurement and the scientific method show the need to understand the scenario in which the creative isn’t shown. By withholding the test assets from a segment of the target audience, it’s possible to establish a baseline. The difference in conversion rates or any primary KPI between the treatment group — those who were exposed to the ad — and the control group — those who weren’t exposed — shows the actual incremental lift the creative is driving. Dig deeper: Why incrementality is the only metric that proves marketing’s real impact 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 What you need before testing creative uplift One common mistake is launching experiments without enough data to reach statistical significance. To avoid inconclusive or invalid results, make sure your campaign meets these prerequisites before setting up the test. Conversion volume Google recommends having at least 50 conversions across treatment and control arms during the experiment to measure lift accurately. If your primary conversion doesn’t receive this volume, consider optimizing the test around high-intent micro-conversion actions, such as “Add to Cart.” Budget minimums Experiments should run with continuous, uninterrupted spending. If your Demand Gen campaign is limited by budget and stops early each day, the control group data will be skewed. The campaign must have a sufficient budget to run for at least four weeks, or until a statistically significant result is achieved. Creative isolation Test only one new variable at a time. To determine if a specific video asset drives uplift, keep all other campaign elements, such as audience, bidding, and standard image assets, unchanged. Dig deeper: Why Demand Gen is the most underrated campaign type in Google Ads Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. How to run an asset uplift test in Google Ads Setting up a creative uplift test is now more streamlined within Google Ads. To build a valid experiment, follow these steps. 1. Define a clear hypothesis Every valid scientific test begins with a clear hypothesis. Avoid running tests without a defined objective. For example: Bad hypothesis: “Let’s see if our new video works.” Good hypothesis: “Adding user-generated content (UGC) to our Demand Gen asset group will drive a 10% incremental lift in ‘purchase’ conversions compared to standard static image carousels.” Navigate to the Experiments interface Log in to your Google Ads account and navigate to the left menu. Select Campaigns > Experiments. Click the plus (+) button to create a new experiment, choose Asset tests provided by you, and make it a Demand Gen campaign experiment. Configure a 50/50 split Google will prompt you to define your split. To set up statistically sound results, use a 50/50 cookie-based split. This ensures both control and treatment groups have equal historical data and algorithmic weighting, and prevents users from ending up in both arms of the test. Assign your existing campaign as the control, and the duplicated campaign with new assets as the treatment. Lock your variables Once the experiment begins, you must practice extreme discipline. Don’t change audiences or targeting, and avoid drastic bid and budget changes. Any adjustment made to either campaign during the testing window will introduce noise and could invalidate the statistical significance of your results. Set the duration Run the experiment for at least four weeks. Week 1 serves as a learning period while the algorithm adjusts to the audience split, new creative, and bid model learning (especially if leveraging smart bidding). Weeks 2 to 4 provide actionable performance data. For longer conversion cycles, such as B2B SaaS, consider extending the test to six or eight weeks. Dig deeper: What it takes to make demand gen work for B2B and ecommerce What your experiment results actually mean When the experiment concludes, review results in the Experiments dashboard, where a report showing the performance of each arm and its confidence interval across metrics is available. Interpret the outcomes as follows to validate your hypothesis made earlier. Outcome 1: Positive lift (statistically significant) If the treatment group shows a positive lift with 95% confidence, your creative asset has been proven to drive incremental conversions. From there, you can calculate incremental cost per acquisition (iCPA) by dividing the treatment group’s total ad spend by the incremental conversions above the control arm. Use this iCPA as your benchmark for scaling the campaign going forward. Outcome 2: Negative lift Occasionally, a new creative asset may suppress performance. It may be too disruptive, or the video may have a high skip rate, causing the algorithm to reduce delivery to high-intent users. Pause the treatment asset immediately. This allows you to let data guide your budget decisions vs. preference. Outcome 3: Inconclusive result If the difference between groups is negligible and the system cannot confidently attribute conversions to the ad after four weeks and adequate conversion volume, consider extending the test for two more weeks to collect additional data. If results are still inconclusive, it could be that creatives are too similar. Test a significantly different creative asset, as small changes rarely produce a statistically significant lift in Demand Gen. Prove creative impact with incrementality testing Creative is a key remaining lever and differentiator you can pull to drive performance. Producing high-quality video or UGC is just the first step in this world, where creative bandwidth and impact must be proven as a driver of results. Demand Gen is a powerful tool for visual storytelling, but justifying its budget to stakeholders requires rigorous, scientific evidence of its impact. Asset uplift experiments enable just that. Begin your first holdout test, establish a baseline, and let data guide your creative decisions and roadmap. Dig deeper: The Google Ads Demand Gen playbook View the full article

Google's John Mueller said the other day that "SEO is not belief-based, nobody knows everything, and it changes over time." Super true, I've been covering SEO changes over the years and I spot this all the time.View the full article

Starting today, McDonald’s U.S. customers will finally have access to the newest McValue platform, an updated menu that the burger chain has touted as offering more flexibility and better deals. Don’t be surprised if your next trip to the drive-thru isn’t meaningfully cheaper as a result. Announced earlier this month, the new menu offers an array of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items for under $3. While that’s an attractive price point to be sure, it’s not quite as attractive to some customers as what was on offer with the original McValue menu when it was introduced last year. That menu, you might recall, allowed customers to add various items for just $1 if they purchased a full-priced item of equal or lesser value. With the updated version, McDonald’s is doing away with the buy-one, add-one for $1 option—much to the chagrin of customers who adored it. So in the end, the price difference between the two menus will depend on how you prefer to mix and match your burgers, chicken nuggets, and fries. Whereas you used to get a second item for $1, now you get one item for under $3. Cheaper? Maybe, or maybe not. Experts say the true value of promotional menus is often determined by a range of factors, including location. McDonald’s pricing can vary greatly, even at restaurants within the same market. In fact, depending on where you live, some items that are now part of the new under $3 deals may have already been available at that price point, according to fourth-quarter data from Technomic, which tracks menu prices. “McDonald’s is always experimenting with the architecture of their value offerings,” Heather Nelson, senior director of syndicated research at Technomic, told Fast Company. “As a marketing tactic, this is designed to draw more attention to the value they were providing.” Asked about how the new McValue menu might save customers money versus the previous iteration, a spokesperson for McDonald’s said the refreshed version better reflects the flexibility that customers prefer. “The Under $3 Menu delivers on what [customers have] told us matters most: consistently great prices on their favorite items and the freedom to order what they want, when they want – no bundling required,” the spokesperson said. “Alongside other everyday value offerings like Meal Deals, customers now have more options to choose from – whether they’re looking for a quick snack or a complete meal.” Still, the menu change has been a topic of robust discussion on forums like Reddit, where many customers are lamenting the loss of the buy-one, add-one offers. On one extensive thread in the r/fastfood subreddit, some said the new menu’s math will leave them worse off at their own local McDonald’s. However, others in that same thread have countered that the under $3 will work out better for them. The new McValue menu also retains the $5 Meal Deal that McDonald’s announced to much fanfare in 2024, when inflation-driven menu price hikes had become front page news. But notably, the McDouble version of that deal is now priced at $6, which many markets had already been charging due to higher operating costs. On menus and marketing In the world of fast food, menus are marketing, and good marketing relies on the promise of newness. As the industry leader, McDonald’s extensively researches the impact of its menu pricing on consumer behavior, meaning however you feel about its new price promotions, it doesn’t arrive at them by accident. But the basic rule of upward pressure means that some of its catchiest promotions have had to go extinct by necessity. That’s not just true for McDonald’s, but for all fast food brands. Consider the long-defunct Dollar Menu, a concept so alluring that it still holds sway in certain nostalgic circles. As that price point became untenable, McDonald’s in 2013 reimagined the idea as the Dollar Menu & More, pitching it as at the time as offering “more choices.” A few years later, it came out with the $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu, again offering all of its beloved staples, but now at an even wider range of tiers. That menu, too, eventually went by the wayside, and the burger giant has more recently emphasized the value of its $5 (or maybe $6) Meal Deals. Dressing up the same food with different pricing schemes every few years might remind one of that old adage about rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, except McDonald’s is hardly sinking. Its restaurants generated $139 billion in global sales last year. This is in no small part due to the perception of affordability that McDonald’s has perfected over the decades. But these days, the country is in the throes of a full-blown affordability crisis. As a brand built on value, McDonald’s has had to put even more focus on its “core customer” in the lower- and middle-income class categories, according to Darren Tristano, CEO FoodserviceResults, a consulting firm. “Sometimes these ‘deals’ are nothing more than a small discount or focusing [a] spotlight on already lower-cost menu products,” Tristano says. “McDonald’s likely adds items with lower costs so operating profits don’t take a big hit.” Kristin Toussaint contributed reporting. View the full article

Google's John Mueller said that since SEO is complex, multifaceted, and resilient, you "can do a lot of things that don't work & still do ok." Meaning, you can mess up on several SEO things and still do well with search rankings.View the full article

Google is reportedly showing shopping ads in the free listing grid in the Google Shopping tab. Previously, Google was better at showing more free listings but that seems to have changed.View the full article