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While Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin decide the future of Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, the war keeps raging on in Europe. Kiev doesn’t give up and continues to unleash a seemingly endless swarms of drones against Moscow’s assets, from heavy bombers to light first-person view (FPV) drones, explosive-loaded kamikaze flying vehicles controlled with gamepads and AR goggles designed to eliminate armored vehicles, trucks, and infantry units. The drones have had a devastating impact on the much larger Russian forces, so effective that Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces—the first of its kind in the world—has inaugurated a new era of warfare and jump-started a novel arms race. On the ground, the relentless barrage of ultrafast FPVs has forced Russian forces in the Bakhmut sector—in Eastern Ukraine—to resort to a low-tech, desperate measure: a mile-long tunnel constructed of netting designed to intercept the tiny, explosive wasps. In theory, this construction—which stretches along a critical supply route between Bakhmut and the city of Chasiv Yar—stops the FPVs before they reach their targets, too far from the troops on the ground to do any damage. The Russians claim it works, though requires constant maintenance because the FPVs keep piercing the improvised structure. According to Ukrainian drone operators, however, it is not as effective as the Russians had hoped. Old trick, new enemies Similar low-tech solutions have been employed throughout history, often arising from a need to counter a technologically superior or novel threat with readily available materials. During World War II, for example, barrage balloons were deployed extensively by the British and also the United States, with the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion deploying them after the Normandy landings to protect the Allies’ beachheads. These large, tethered balloons were intended to deter enemy aircraft from dive-bombing and strafing ground positions and cities, forcing airplanes to fly higher to avoid colliding with the tethering cables, thus making bombing less accurate. Barrage balloons protect ships unloading cargo at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, in June 1944. [Photo: United States Coast Guard] Instead of dive bombers, the Ukrainians are using FPV drones. Instead of balloons and cables, Russians are using nets. Ukrainian drones so effective that the Russians now refer to open roads in battle areas as “roads of death.” X and Telegram are full of videos that highlight this big problem for Moscow’s forces, showing long stretches of roads littered with the charred remains of countless vehicles destroyed by FPV drones. Anton Gerashchenko—former adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine—counts here a whopping 90 destroyed Russian vehicles: a mix of trucks, vans, and what appears to be a tank, all piled up along a short stretch of road in the Donetsk region. Another video posted by war analyst Special Kherson Cat depicts a seemingly endless column of destroyed Russian supply vehicles on the Pokrovsk front. Developing countermeasures for drones Before these nets, the Russian military experimented with various countermeasures against drone attacks. Initially, they attempted to use electronic warfare systems to jam drone signals. However, the rapid evolution of drone technology, including the use of varied frequencies to control them, fiber optic cables, and artificial intelligence to avoid remote control, has rendered these jamming efforts largely ineffective. And while tank crews have been building improvised anti-drone armors around them—making them look like grotesque steampunkish turtles—soldiers don’t have that luxury. So they had to improvise and build the netted tunnel. [Photo: Ukraine Ministry of Defense/Wiki Commons] The news about the tunnel was picked up from Russian TV for Western media by WarTranslated, a Estonian military analyst who has been reporting on news on the war. The video shows the skeletal framework of this unusual defense. Russian soldiers in the video explain that the netting is intended to protect vehicles and personnel from drone attacks on this exposed stretch of road. “Our group maintains more than two kilometers of anti-drone nets. We constantly improve the technology,” one of the soldiers who is working on these contraptions says in the video. “The nets are placed in the most exposed sections of the road to ensure the safe movement of our equipment. We strive to continuously expand the coverage area, enhancing the installation technology to set them up more quickly.” The “installation technology” looks like nothing more than patches of plastic netting of different sizes and colors, which are hung using existing and improvised posts along the road. Parts of the road have nets covering both the sides and the top. Sometimes they don’t build the “roof” and instead install banners of the material connecting posts across the road. The Russians believe that these banners will acts as obstacles, making it difficult for Ukrainian drone operators to maneuver into the road, and hopefully stopping the FPVs from diving in for a bombing run. https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1888536416008729027 The Ukrainians are not impressed The Ukrainian pilots disagree. While netting can indeed capture drones, preventing them from detonating on impact, they remain unimpressed. They point out that fragmentation munitions, effectively flying claymore mines, can be detonated remotely, showering shrapnel through the netting. Even more concerning for the Russians is that the netting itself can become a trap. Ukrainian forces are exploring the use of incendiary “dragon drones” known as Dracarys, maneuvering inside the tunnels to spray thermite (a mixture of metal powder and metal oxide that burns at 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit). This substance produces intense heat on contact thanks to a chemical reaction where the metal powder steals oxygen from the metal oxide, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the process. It can burn through any armor and, according to the Pentagon, kill anyone in under 10 seconds. Another possibility is that they will use anti-tank mines to destroy sections of the netting, creating openings for other FPVs to exploit. Once inside the tunnel, the Russian vehicles and personnel can’t disperse easily, becoming an easier target for the FPVs. So despite these nets, Russians could easily find themselves back at square one. But in any case, the construction of these tunnels is a testament to the effectiveness of Ukrainian drone attacks and the desperation of the Russian military to protect its supply lines. They highlight the ongoing cat-and-mouse game of military innovation in Ukraine, with each side constantly developing new tactics and countermeasures. The “roads of death” are likely to remain a feature of this conflict until Trump and Putin strike a deal reported to erase Ukraine’s effort and sacrifice for their benefit. View the full article

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Finding your way through the complexities of lead generation software can be daunting, yet it is transformative in today’s digital landscape. Whether you’re a sales professional, a marketer, or a small business owner, selecting the right tool can significantly enhance your efficiency and amplify your results. We’ve carefully selected the top ten tools that combine ease of use, seamless integration, and excellent customer support. Are you prepared to elevate your lead generation efforts? What is Lead Generation? Lead generation is the art and science of attracting and converting strangers into potential customers. It’s a cornerstone of digital marketing, where creating a pipeline of interested prospects is key. Lead generation software steps in as a vital tool, helping businesses identify, engage, and nurture potential customers more efficiently. It’s not just about generating leads; it’s about finding the right ones that are most likely to convert. The Need for Automation in Lead Generation Automation in lead generation isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity. Manually tracking and nurturing leads is time-consuming and prone to errors. That’s where lead generation software shines, automating repetitive tasks, ensuring consistent follow-ups, and keeping the pipeline flowing smoothly. By using software, businesses can focus more on strategy and less on the nitty-gritty, leading to better leads and, ultimately, more sales. Why Use a Lead Generation Tool? Lead generation tools are like secret weapons for boosting efficiency, accuracy, and scalability in marketing. They streamline finding and nurturing potential customers, making the process faster and more precise. Imagine targeting the right audience with less effort and growing your reach without expanding your team. These tools don’t just add leads to your funnel; they ensure these leads are high-quality and relevant, setting the stage for higher conversion rates. Using tools like heat maps can enhance understanding of user behavior on your website, aiding in lead generation efforts. How a Lead Generation System Saves Your Sales Team Time Using a lead generation system is like giving your sales team a superpower. It cuts down the hours spent on sifting through data, manually entering information, and chasing unqualified leads. With automation and smart targeting, your team can focus on what they do best – closing deals. This means more time for personalizing customer interactions and strategizing, significantly boosting productivity and effectiveness in your sales process. Helping Sales and Marketing Teams to Generate Leads For sales and marketing teams, lead generation software is a game-changer. It bridges the gap between potential customers and your product, ensuring that marketing efforts are targeted and effective. With tools like these, teams can create more personalized and impactful campaigns, track their success in real time, and continuously refine their strategies. It’s about working smarter, not harder, to attract and engage the right audience for your business. Implementing an effective advertising campaign with the aid of lead-generation tools can significantly increase efficiency and results. Key Features to Look for in Lead Generation Tools Selecting the appropriate lead generation software can significantly impact your results. Consider these essential features: Ease of Use and User Interface An intuitive user interface and ease of use are crucial. A good lead generation tool should be simple to navigate, making it easy for your team to manage campaigns and analyze data without a steep learning curve. Integration Capabilities Integration capabilities are vital. Your chosen tool should seamlessly integrate with existing CRM systems, email platforms, and other marketing tools. This synergy ensures streamlined processes and a unified approach to lead management. Quality of Customer Support Dependable customer support is essential. Choose a tool that provides responsive and knowledgeable support teams. They should deliver prompt solutions and guidance, minimizing downtime and enhancing the tool’s effectiveness. Data Analysis and Reporting Robust data analysis and reporting capabilities are key. Your tool should offer detailed insights into lead behavior, campaign performance, and more, helping you make informed decisions. Lead Nurturing and Follow-up Features Effective lead nurturing and follow-up capabilities are crucial. The lead generation software should automate and personalize follow-ups, ensuring that leads are nurtured at every stage of the sales funnel. Customization and Scalability Finally, consider customization and scalability. The tool should adapt to your specific business needs and scale as your business grows without losing effectiveness. BenefitDescriptionHow It's AchievedImpact on Business Increased Lead VolumeGenerate a higher number of leads.Automated tools capture more leads through various channels.Expands the potential customer base and opportunities for sales. Improved Lead QualityAttract more qualified leads.Advanced targeting and segmentation to reach the most relevant audience.Higher conversion rates due to more interested and suitable prospects. Efficiency in Lead CaptureStreamlines the lead capture process.Automates the collection and organization of lead data.Saves time and reduces manual errors in data collection. Enhanced Lead NurturingBetter management of lead nurturing process.Automated follow-ups and personalized content delivery.Strengthens relationships with potential customers, increasing chances of conversion. Analytics and ReportingInsightful data on lead generation efforts.Detailed analytics to track performance and ROI.Enables data-driven decisions to optimize marketing strategies. Integration with CRMSeamless connection with customer relationship management systems.Syncs lead data with CRM for a unified view of customer interactions.Improves customer relationship management and sales processes. ScalabilityAdaptable to business growth.Flexibility to scale up lead generation efforts as the business grows.Supports business expansion without the need for extensive additional resources. Time and Cost SavingsReduces time and costs associated with lead generation.Automates tasks that would otherwise require manual effort and time.Allows allocation of resources to other critical business areas. Customization and PersonalizationTailored approach to lead generation.Customize campaigns to suit specific business needs and target audiences.Enhances the relevance and appeal of marketing efforts to potential customers. Competitive AdvantageStaying ahead in the market.Use of advanced technology to outperform competitors in lead generation.Positions the business as a front-runner in adopting effective marketing technologies. The Best Lead Generation Tools Explore our top ten selections for lead generation software, each providing distinct features and functionalities that can enhance your marketing and sales strategies. Let’s take a closer look at these transformative tools! Salesforce Salesforce is a versatile CRM software that is particularly well-suited for small businesses, offering a wide range of features such as contact and opportunity management, sales forecasting, and process automation. It also excels in customer service by providing tools for incident management and workflow automation. In terms of marketing, Salesforce supports campaign management and analytics. The Salesforce Essentials package is priced at $25 per user per month, making it suitable for businesses of various sizes with scalable options. Notably, Salesforce is distinguished by its cloud-based accessibility, extensive integration capabilities, and flexibility to accommodate business growth. Clearbit Clearbit is designed specifically for B2B marketing and sales, providing data-driven insights that enhance lead generation and engagement. Its key features include a robust B2B contact database, tools for identifying buyer intent, and capabilities for creating targeted prospect lists. Clearbit offers a free plan that includes 25 monthly credits, while the Growth plan costs between $50 and $275 per month, offering credit tiers from 125 to 1,000 credits. This solution is ideal for small businesses and integrates seamlessly with platforms like HubSpot, improving marketing strategies through its focus on efficiency and relevant data. Hootsuite Hootsuite is a social media management platform, offering features like post-scheduling, analytics, and engagement tools. It’s suitable for businesses managing multiple social media accounts. The Professional plan is priced at $99 per month, supporting 1 user and 10 social accounts. For larger needs, the Team plan at $249 per month allows 3 users to manage 20 social accounts, adding roles and permissions for teamwork. Hootsuite’s comprehensive features and scalability make it a good choice for small businesses looking to optimize their social media strategy. OptinMonster OptinMonster is a lead generation and conversion optimization software, ideal for small businesses. It offers features like lightbox popups, floating bars, inline forms, and A/B testing, aimed at increasing sales and subscribers. Its pricing starts at $9 per month (billed annually) for the Basic plan and ranges up to $49 per month for the Growth plan, also billed annually. These plans offer unlimited campaigns and subscribers, making OptinMonster a scalable and cost-effective choice for small businesses looking to enhance their online marketing efforts. Lead Forensics Lead Forensics is a lead generation software that employs IP tracking to identify anonymous B2B website visitors. It offers information such as the names, positions, and email addresses of key decision-makers at the visiting companies, allowing for customized pitches. The pricing for Lead Forensics is based on your website’s traffic, which is evaluated during a trial period. As a leader in IP tracking and with a comprehensive B2B IP address database, it is an excellent choice for small businesses looking for in-depth insights into their website visitors to improve their lead-generation efforts. Paperform Paperform is an online form builder that combines advanced digital capabilities with elegant design. It offers unlimited forms and integrations with over 2,000 apps to streamline workflows. Pricing starts at $24/month for the Essentials plan, $49/month for the Pro plan, and $165/month for the Business plan, all billed annually. These plans vary in features like user access, submission limits, and support levels. Paperform’s user-friendly interface and extensive customization options make it a strong choice for small businesses looking to create forms for various purposes, including lead generation. Proof Proof is a tool designed for website personalization and displaying social proof to increase conversions. It includes features like A/B testing, audience targeting based on behavior, and showing real-time customer activity. This software is particularly suitable for small businesses aiming to tailor their website experience and establish trust with visitors. With plans starting at just $29 per month, Proof offers an affordable and effective solution for enhancing engagement and credibility on business websites. Woorise Woorise is an interactive campaign creation platform designed for small businesses. It provides features such as unlimited campaigns, various integrations, and email notifications, emphasizing the creation of forms, surveys, quizzes, and giveaways. The Basic plan starts at $29 per month and includes 1,000 monthly entries, as well as email and chat support and options for a custom domain. With its user-friendly interface and competitive pricing, Woorise is an appealing choice for small businesses aiming to engage their audience and utilize lead generation software to generate leads through interactive content. Beacon Beacon is a lead generation software that assists businesses in creating lead magnets, resource libraries, and lead capture forms. It provides a variety of plans to meet different requirements, including a free plan, a “DIY” plan for $19 per month, a “Professional” plan for $49 per month, and an “Agency” plan for $99 per month. Beacon stands out as an excellent option for small businesses thanks to its intuitive interface, extensive template library, and customizable domain options, which facilitate the creation of engaging content for lead generation. AeroLeads AeroLeads is a B2B lead generation tool that focuses on finding prospects’ emails and phone numbers. Key features include the ability to search for contacts, verify emails, and run email campaigns. Pricing starts with the “Take off” plan at $29 per month, offering 2,000 credits and 800 valid email guarantees, suitable for small-scale operations. AeroLeads is a good choice for small businesses due to its targeted data-gathering capabilities and affordable pricing, enabling them to efficiently identify and reach potential B2B clients. Choosing the Right Lead Generation Tool for Your Small Business Selecting the perfect lead generation tool for your small business is all about alignment. Consider your business needs, budget, and team size. A smaller team might need a more user-friendly tool, while businesses with a bit more to spend can look for advanced features. It’s about finding a balance between functionality and affordability, ensuring the tool you choose can grow with your business and boost your marketing efforts effectively. Considering your specific business needs and aligning them with the right tool, much like analyzing broader market trends using tips for analyzing trends, can enhance your marketing strategies. B2B Lead Generation: The Role of Lead Generation Platforms B2B lead generation comes with its own set of challenges, like identifying the right decision-makers and understanding complex market dynamics. Lead generation platforms can be lifesavers here, offering tools to pinpoint potential business clients and tailor messaging to their specific needs, much like the targeted approach used in direct mail advertising.. They help in nurturing these specialized leads through a longer sales cycle, ensuring you’re engaging the right people with the right solutions at the right time. Transitioning from Leads to Customers: The Importance of Lead Management Lead management is the crucial next step after lead generation. It’s about carefully tracking and nurturing each lead through the sales funnel, from initial contact to the final sale. Lead generation software plays a pivotal role here, automating follow-ups, organizing lead information, and providing insights for personalized engagement. Effective lead management ensures that no potential customer slips through the cracks, increasing the chances of converting leads into loyal customers. By streamlining this process, businesses can focus on building strong relationships and closing more deals. This mirrors the ongoing process of nurturing and converting leads, as seen in successful lead generation ideas. https://youtube.com/watch?v=YiW9t8TI8wA%3Fsi%3DECa8N3Ac_JoqsVca FAQs: Lead Generation Tools Are there free lead-generation software tools? Yes, there are free lead generation software tools available, offering basic functionalities that can be great for startups or small businesses on a tight budget. However, they might lack advanced features, so as your business grows, you may need to consider upgrading to paid versions for more comprehensive capabilities. Is investing in a lead generation tool worth it for small businesses? Absolutely! For small businesses, investing in a lead generation tool can be a game-changer. It streamlines the process of finding and nurturing potential customers, saving time and resources. This efficiency can lead to higher conversion rates and growth, making the investment well worth it. What is the best lead generation software for a small business? For small businesses, HubSpot often stands out as a top choice for lead generation software. It’s user-friendly, offers a range of tools for lead capture, nurturing, and analytics, and integrates well with other platforms. Plus, it has scalable plans, making it suitable as your business grows. How can lead generation campaigns be optimized to capture leads more effectively? Lead generation campaigns can be optimized by understanding your target audience, creating engaging and relevant content, using data analytics for insights, and continuously testing and tweaking your strategies. Personalizing your campaigns and ensuring they are aligned with your audience’s needs and preferences can significantly increase their effectiveness. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Top Picks for Lead Generation Software" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Finding your way through the complexities of lead generation software can be daunting, yet it is transformative in today’s digital landscape. Whether you’re a sales professional, a marketer, or a small business owner, selecting the right tool can significantly enhance your efficiency and amplify your results. We’ve carefully selected the top ten tools that combine ease of use, seamless integration, and excellent customer support. Are you prepared to elevate your lead generation efforts? What is Lead Generation? Lead generation is the art and science of attracting and converting strangers into potential customers. It’s a cornerstone of digital marketing, where creating a pipeline of interested prospects is key. Lead generation software steps in as a vital tool, helping businesses identify, engage, and nurture potential customers more efficiently. It’s not just about generating leads; it’s about finding the right ones that are most likely to convert. The Need for Automation in Lead Generation Automation in lead generation isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity. Manually tracking and nurturing leads is time-consuming and prone to errors. That’s where lead generation software shines, automating repetitive tasks, ensuring consistent follow-ups, and keeping the pipeline flowing smoothly. By using software, businesses can focus more on strategy and less on the nitty-gritty, leading to better leads and, ultimately, more sales. Why Use a Lead Generation Tool? Lead generation tools are like secret weapons for boosting efficiency, accuracy, and scalability in marketing. They streamline finding and nurturing potential customers, making the process faster and more precise. Imagine targeting the right audience with less effort and growing your reach without expanding your team. These tools don’t just add leads to your funnel; they ensure these leads are high-quality and relevant, setting the stage for higher conversion rates. Using tools like heat maps can enhance understanding of user behavior on your website, aiding in lead generation efforts. How a Lead Generation System Saves Your Sales Team Time Using a lead generation system is like giving your sales team a superpower. It cuts down the hours spent on sifting through data, manually entering information, and chasing unqualified leads. With automation and smart targeting, your team can focus on what they do best – closing deals. This means more time for personalizing customer interactions and strategizing, significantly boosting productivity and effectiveness in your sales process. Helping Sales and Marketing Teams to Generate Leads For sales and marketing teams, lead generation software is a game-changer. It bridges the gap between potential customers and your product, ensuring that marketing efforts are targeted and effective. With tools like these, teams can create more personalized and impactful campaigns, track their success in real time, and continuously refine their strategies. It’s about working smarter, not harder, to attract and engage the right audience for your business. Implementing an effective advertising campaign with the aid of lead-generation tools can significantly increase efficiency and results. Key Features to Look for in Lead Generation Tools Selecting the appropriate lead generation software can significantly impact your results. Consider these essential features: Ease of Use and User Interface An intuitive user interface and ease of use are crucial. A good lead generation tool should be simple to navigate, making it easy for your team to manage campaigns and analyze data without a steep learning curve. Integration Capabilities Integration capabilities are vital. Your chosen tool should seamlessly integrate with existing CRM systems, email platforms, and other marketing tools. This synergy ensures streamlined processes and a unified approach to lead management. Quality of Customer Support Dependable customer support is essential. Choose a tool that provides responsive and knowledgeable support teams. They should deliver prompt solutions and guidance, minimizing downtime and enhancing the tool’s effectiveness. Data Analysis and Reporting Robust data analysis and reporting capabilities are key. Your tool should offer detailed insights into lead behavior, campaign performance, and more, helping you make informed decisions. Lead Nurturing and Follow-up Features Effective lead nurturing and follow-up capabilities are crucial. The lead generation software should automate and personalize follow-ups, ensuring that leads are nurtured at every stage of the sales funnel. Customization and Scalability Finally, consider customization and scalability. The tool should adapt to your specific business needs and scale as your business grows without losing effectiveness. BenefitDescriptionHow It's AchievedImpact on Business Increased Lead VolumeGenerate a higher number of leads.Automated tools capture more leads through various channels.Expands the potential customer base and opportunities for sales. Improved Lead QualityAttract more qualified leads.Advanced targeting and segmentation to reach the most relevant audience.Higher conversion rates due to more interested and suitable prospects. Efficiency in Lead CaptureStreamlines the lead capture process.Automates the collection and organization of lead data.Saves time and reduces manual errors in data collection. Enhanced Lead NurturingBetter management of lead nurturing process.Automated follow-ups and personalized content delivery.Strengthens relationships with potential customers, increasing chances of conversion. Analytics and ReportingInsightful data on lead generation efforts.Detailed analytics to track performance and ROI.Enables data-driven decisions to optimize marketing strategies. Integration with CRMSeamless connection with customer relationship management systems.Syncs lead data with CRM for a unified view of customer interactions.Improves customer relationship management and sales processes. ScalabilityAdaptable to business growth.Flexibility to scale up lead generation efforts as the business grows.Supports business expansion without the need for extensive additional resources. Time and Cost SavingsReduces time and costs associated with lead generation.Automates tasks that would otherwise require manual effort and time.Allows allocation of resources to other critical business areas. Customization and PersonalizationTailored approach to lead generation.Customize campaigns to suit specific business needs and target audiences.Enhances the relevance and appeal of marketing efforts to potential customers. Competitive AdvantageStaying ahead in the market.Use of advanced technology to outperform competitors in lead generation.Positions the business as a front-runner in adopting effective marketing technologies. The Best Lead Generation Tools Explore our top ten selections for lead generation software, each providing distinct features and functionalities that can enhance your marketing and sales strategies. Let’s take a closer look at these transformative tools! Salesforce Salesforce is a versatile CRM software that is particularly well-suited for small businesses, offering a wide range of features such as contact and opportunity management, sales forecasting, and process automation. It also excels in customer service by providing tools for incident management and workflow automation. In terms of marketing, Salesforce supports campaign management and analytics. The Salesforce Essentials package is priced at $25 per user per month, making it suitable for businesses of various sizes with scalable options. Notably, Salesforce is distinguished by its cloud-based accessibility, extensive integration capabilities, and flexibility to accommodate business growth. Clearbit Clearbit is designed specifically for B2B marketing and sales, providing data-driven insights that enhance lead generation and engagement. Its key features include a robust B2B contact database, tools for identifying buyer intent, and capabilities for creating targeted prospect lists. Clearbit offers a free plan that includes 25 monthly credits, while the Growth plan costs between $50 and $275 per month, offering credit tiers from 125 to 1,000 credits. This solution is ideal for small businesses and integrates seamlessly with platforms like HubSpot, improving marketing strategies through its focus on efficiency and relevant data. Hootsuite Hootsuite is a social media management platform, offering features like post-scheduling, analytics, and engagement tools. It’s suitable for businesses managing multiple social media accounts. The Professional plan is priced at $99 per month, supporting 1 user and 10 social accounts. For larger needs, the Team plan at $249 per month allows 3 users to manage 20 social accounts, adding roles and permissions for teamwork. Hootsuite’s comprehensive features and scalability make it a good choice for small businesses looking to optimize their social media strategy. OptinMonster OptinMonster is a lead generation and conversion optimization software, ideal for small businesses. It offers features like lightbox popups, floating bars, inline forms, and A/B testing, aimed at increasing sales and subscribers. Its pricing starts at $9 per month (billed annually) for the Basic plan and ranges up to $49 per month for the Growth plan, also billed annually. These plans offer unlimited campaigns and subscribers, making OptinMonster a scalable and cost-effective choice for small businesses looking to enhance their online marketing efforts. Lead Forensics Lead Forensics is a lead generation software that employs IP tracking to identify anonymous B2B website visitors. It offers information such as the names, positions, and email addresses of key decision-makers at the visiting companies, allowing for customized pitches. The pricing for Lead Forensics is based on your website’s traffic, which is evaluated during a trial period. As a leader in IP tracking and with a comprehensive B2B IP address database, it is an excellent choice for small businesses looking for in-depth insights into their website visitors to improve their lead-generation efforts. Paperform Paperform is an online form builder that combines advanced digital capabilities with elegant design. It offers unlimited forms and integrations with over 2,000 apps to streamline workflows. Pricing starts at $24/month for the Essentials plan, $49/month for the Pro plan, and $165/month for the Business plan, all billed annually. These plans vary in features like user access, submission limits, and support levels. Paperform’s user-friendly interface and extensive customization options make it a strong choice for small businesses looking to create forms for various purposes, including lead generation. Proof Proof is a tool designed for website personalization and displaying social proof to increase conversions. It includes features like A/B testing, audience targeting based on behavior, and showing real-time customer activity. This software is particularly suitable for small businesses aiming to tailor their website experience and establish trust with visitors. With plans starting at just $29 per month, Proof offers an affordable and effective solution for enhancing engagement and credibility on business websites. Woorise Woorise is an interactive campaign creation platform designed for small businesses. It provides features such as unlimited campaigns, various integrations, and email notifications, emphasizing the creation of forms, surveys, quizzes, and giveaways. The Basic plan starts at $29 per month and includes 1,000 monthly entries, as well as email and chat support and options for a custom domain. With its user-friendly interface and competitive pricing, Woorise is an appealing choice for small businesses aiming to engage their audience and utilize lead generation software to generate leads through interactive content. Beacon Beacon is a lead generation software that assists businesses in creating lead magnets, resource libraries, and lead capture forms. It provides a variety of plans to meet different requirements, including a free plan, a “DIY” plan for $19 per month, a “Professional” plan for $49 per month, and an “Agency” plan for $99 per month. Beacon stands out as an excellent option for small businesses thanks to its intuitive interface, extensive template library, and customizable domain options, which facilitate the creation of engaging content for lead generation. AeroLeads AeroLeads is a B2B lead generation tool that focuses on finding prospects’ emails and phone numbers. Key features include the ability to search for contacts, verify emails, and run email campaigns. Pricing starts with the “Take off” plan at $29 per month, offering 2,000 credits and 800 valid email guarantees, suitable for small-scale operations. AeroLeads is a good choice for small businesses due to its targeted data-gathering capabilities and affordable pricing, enabling them to efficiently identify and reach potential B2B clients. Choosing the Right Lead Generation Tool for Your Small Business Selecting the perfect lead generation tool for your small business is all about alignment. Consider your business needs, budget, and team size. A smaller team might need a more user-friendly tool, while businesses with a bit more to spend can look for advanced features. It’s about finding a balance between functionality and affordability, ensuring the tool you choose can grow with your business and boost your marketing efforts effectively. Considering your specific business needs and aligning them with the right tool, much like analyzing broader market trends using tips for analyzing trends, can enhance your marketing strategies. B2B Lead Generation: The Role of Lead Generation Platforms B2B lead generation comes with its own set of challenges, like identifying the right decision-makers and understanding complex market dynamics. Lead generation platforms can be lifesavers here, offering tools to pinpoint potential business clients and tailor messaging to their specific needs, much like the targeted approach used in direct mail advertising.. They help in nurturing these specialized leads through a longer sales cycle, ensuring you’re engaging the right people with the right solutions at the right time. Transitioning from Leads to Customers: The Importance of Lead Management Lead management is the crucial next step after lead generation. It’s about carefully tracking and nurturing each lead through the sales funnel, from initial contact to the final sale. Lead generation software plays a pivotal role here, automating follow-ups, organizing lead information, and providing insights for personalized engagement. Effective lead management ensures that no potential customer slips through the cracks, increasing the chances of converting leads into loyal customers. By streamlining this process, businesses can focus on building strong relationships and closing more deals. This mirrors the ongoing process of nurturing and converting leads, as seen in successful lead generation ideas. https://youtube.com/watch?v=YiW9t8TI8wA%3Fsi%3DECa8N3Ac_JoqsVca FAQs: Lead Generation Tools Are there free lead-generation software tools? Yes, there are free lead generation software tools available, offering basic functionalities that can be great for startups or small businesses on a tight budget. However, they might lack advanced features, so as your business grows, you may need to consider upgrading to paid versions for more comprehensive capabilities. Is investing in a lead generation tool worth it for small businesses? Absolutely! For small businesses, investing in a lead generation tool can be a game-changer. It streamlines the process of finding and nurturing potential customers, saving time and resources. This efficiency can lead to higher conversion rates and growth, making the investment well worth it. What is the best lead generation software for a small business? For small businesses, HubSpot often stands out as a top choice for lead generation software. It’s user-friendly, offers a range of tools for lead capture, nurturing, and analytics, and integrates well with other platforms. Plus, it has scalable plans, making it suitable as your business grows. How can lead generation campaigns be optimized to capture leads more effectively? Lead generation campaigns can be optimized by understanding your target audience, creating engaging and relevant content, using data analytics for insights, and continuously testing and tweaking your strategies. Personalizing your campaigns and ensuring they are aligned with your audience’s needs and preferences can significantly increase their effectiveness. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Top Picks for Lead Generation Software" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A new startup is leaning on the power of recommendations to spread the word about indie films. Olyn offers a direct-to-consumer platform for film and video distribution, enabling filmmakers to retain up to 90% of their revenue. Billed as “Shopify for filmmakers,” Olyn removes the platform as a middleman, eliminating ads and algorithm-driven recommendations. This allows movies to shine based on their own merits and be monetized directly through viewership. Ana Maria Jipa, cofounder and CEO of Olyn, told TechCrunch that the filmmakers are responsible for the movie’s promotion, while Olyn handles the rest. “We provide all the tech that implies: from DRM, 4K streaming, casting, a full landing page that presents the film in the same way that it might appear on Netflix or Apple TV, plus all the other tools such as geo-targeting, analytics, and audience data,” she said. “They promote their movie with PR, journalists, bloggers, film critics, etc.” The idea is that while filmmakers may not have access to the big marketing budgets of streaming giants, a recommendation from someone a user knows and trusts carries far more weight than a suggestion by a platform algorithm. On Olyn, filmmakers can rely on influencers, film critics, and content creators as distribution partners with purchase links appearing across their content, blogs, and social media. Olyn also provides filmmakers with detailed analytics on viewership, including the locations where their movie is performing well, total minutes watched, and a database of users who have viewed the film. This allows filmmakers to better understand their audience and use that information to inform and improve future projects. Jipa says Olyn’s global reach can also help battle piracy—something that’s been an issue for film studios since the advent of the internet. If someone can pay for a movie and watch it instantly without the hassle of trawling the internet just to settle for a sketchy stream littered with ads, they’re much more likely to do so. And if you’re after a recommendation, the recent Brian Epstein biopic Midas Man, a film about the manager of the Beatles, just dropped on the platform. View the full article

Over the past month, as Elon Musk began to chaotically dismantle government agencies through the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), federal workers started to mobilize to fight back. One step is happening today, February 19: In a national day of action, workers will be protesting in front of federal buildings and Tesla dealerships, along with citizens who want to show support for the work that federal agencies do, from consumer protection to cancer research. “The message is that we need to save our public services from billionaires who want to defund them,” says Mark Smith, an occupational therapist at the VA hospital in San Francisco who is president of the local chapter of the National Federation of Federal Employees, a union that represents more than 100,000 workers and is part of the Federal Unionists Network, a movement of rank-and-file workers that’s independent from union affiliations and has been quickly growing since Musk got to D.C. At a protest in front of the Tesla showroom in San Francisco, federal workers will be joined by citizens who benefit from federal services—including veterans who get healthcare from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); tenants who get housing from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); consumers who get the benefit of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which Musk has all but gutted; and people who appreciate the clean air and water provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “All of us will be out there just trying to show that we’re not going to be quiet,” Smith says. “We’re going to stand up and we’re going to fight back.” Though some of the protests are happening in front of Tesla stores, Smith emphasizes that they stand in solidarity with workers at Tesla factories. “What Musk is doing to us right now is the same thing he has done to Tesla workers in the factories in California,” he says. “In 2017, he tried to lay off a bunch of Tesla workers and say that it was for performance so they could get around the California rules around layoffs,” he says. “That’s a playbook he’s well-versed in.” DOGE plans to access Department of Labor (DOL) data, though unions fought against it. The DOL previously had 17 open investigations into Tesla and SpaceX. OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has fined Musk multiple times for safety violations. (OSHA, which has a database containing whistleblower information, is yet another agency DOGE is reportedly targeting.) “I think it behooves all of us to stand up together and say that we’re not going to let Musk drag us back to the 19th century in terms of working conditions,” Smith says. The group also wants to help the public understand that federal employees aren’t just bureaucrats pushing paper. “Federal workers are park rangers. Federal workers are VA nurses. Federal workers are the folks who get your social security checks out on time,” says Smith. “Federal workers are wildland firefighters putting out the massive fires in California and wherever else. Federal workers are scientists and researchers looking at cancer.” Many different unions represent different groups of federal workers. Those unions have also been growing—Smith says that his own union has seen more sign-ups in the past two weeks than over the past six months. Federal unions have multiple lawsuits underway against DOGE’s work. But the informal Federal Unionist Network, also known as FUN, is helping connect workers across agencies, and educating workers who are new to unions, about how to take collective action. Already, as DOGE has paralyzed agencies like USAID and the CFPB, it’s led to real-world consequences. (In one of many examples, tens of millions of dollars’ worth of emergency food aid, grown by U.S. farmers, sat in ports and warehouses last week waiting to spoil after DOGE virtually shut down USAID.) Some federal employees who have already left, particularly at higher levels of management, have taken valuable institutional knowledge with them that can’t easily be replaced. Many in the newest generation of federal workers, who’ve faced layoffs, have likely decided to find work in the private sector instead. It’s understandable, of course, for federal workers to be afraid of DOGE and feel powerless. But Smith says that they need to recognize the strength of working together. “Our national unions and other groups are doing the hard work of lobbying and filing lawsuits, but at the end of the day, workers acting together is really how we can exercise our power,” he says. View the full article

The term polar vortex usually refers to the gigantic circular upper air weather pattern in the Arctic region. It is a normal pattern that is stronger in the winter and keeps some of the coldest weather bottled up near the North Pole. But at times, some of the vortex can break off or move south, bringing unusually cold weather south and permitting warmer weather to creep up north. This week, parts of the U.S. are experiencing the 10th and coldest polar vortex event this season. Weather forces in the Arctic are combining to push the chilly air into the U.S. and Europe. With record snow in New Orleans last month and drought and destructive wildfires in Southern California, this winter has not been normal. The latest projected cold outbreak will bring bone-chilling temperatures to the Northern and Central Plains for several days, starting Sunday. Wind chills dropped to minus 60 Fahrenheit (minus 51 Celsius) in parts of North Dakota Monday and minus 50 F (minus 46 C) in parts of Montana. Wind chills were expected to dip even lower Tuesday morning. “Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. An extended period of freezing temperatures could cause ruptured water pipes,” the NWS warned Monday. Meteorologists expect strong winds to make the cold feel even worse. Every U.S. state but Hawaii, California, and Florida have some or all parts forecast to have a good chance of windchills of 20 degrees or below sometime next week, the National Weather Service predicted. Some experts say disruptions to polar vortexes are happening more frequently because of a warming world. A warmer Artic gives more energy to atmospheric waves that can drive weather patterns, making the waves more likely to disrupt the vortex and move colder air south into lower latitudes. Despite the unusually cold winter across the U.S., the world remains in an overall warming pattern. Earth’s average overall temperature set yet another monthly heat record in January. It was the 18th month of the last 19 that the world hit or passed the internationally agreed upon warming limit of 1.5 C (2.7 F) above preindustrial times. View the full article

Nike is making a major play for female consumers and the athleisure market with its Skims partnership for a new women’s brand called NikeSkims. Set to debut this spring, the line will include apparel, footwear, and accessories. The two companies are marketing it as a blend of what each brand is best known for—Nike for its innovation, sports science, and athlete insights, and Skims for its style and body-inclusive design. “Over the past five years, Skims has redefined the intimates and casual apparel landscape, championing inclusivity and confidence,” Skims CEO and cofounder Jens Grede said in a statement. “Now, by partnering with Nike, the undisputed leader in athletic performance and innovation, we’re poised to create a new standard in the activewear market.” [Photo: Nike] What makes NikeSkims unique The partnership marks the first time in Nike history it’s launched a new brand with an outside company. NikeSkims represents one of the most mass-market collaborations yet for Skims, which has partnered in recent years with the NBA, the North Face, and Dolce & Gabbana. It also solidifies the underwear and shapewear brand’s deeper push into sports apparel. Skims launched its men’s line with pro athletes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nick Bosa, and Neymar Jr., and became the official underwear brand of the NBA, WNBA, and USA Basketball. NikeSkims indicated it isn’t ruling out apparel for men down the line. For Nike, it’s a chance to play catch-up in the athleisure space where it’s been lapped by competitors like Lululemon, Hoka, and On. Those brands’ early investment in comfortable activewear has paid off as the category has continued to grow in popularity since the pandemic. While Nike has traditionally anchored its entire design language in performance innovation, the Skims partnership offers the company a wider lane. Heidi O’Neill, president of consumer, product, and brand at Nike, says NikeSkims will “serve women so they can feel strong and sexy.” Nike keeps charting its comeback The NikeSkims announcement is the latest step in the storied sports apparel brand’s attempt to right the ship, and a sign that Nike sees women and girls as key to regaining its footing. Nike aired its first Super Bowl ad in 27 years (starring an all-female cast of athletes including basketball star Caitlin Clark and U.S. track and field Olympian Sha’Carri Richardson), and its newest signature shoe, with Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson, was announced this month. “No footwear or apparel brand delivers the level of support Nike provides to women’s sport and movement,” Amy Montagne, Nike Women’s VP and general manager, said in a statement. With NikeSkims, “we’re deepening that support.” By partnering with Skims, Nike is betting on the cultural cachet of a hip, younger brand, and the power of teamwork as it plots its comeback. View the full article

One of President Donald Trump’s major promises during the 2024 presidential campaign was to launch mass deportations of immigrants living in the U.S. without legal authorization. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has said that, since January 2025, it is detaining and planning to deport 600 to 1,100 immigrants a day. That marks an increase from the average 282 immigration arrests that happened each day in September 2024 under the Biden administration. The current trend would place the Trump administration on track to apprehend 25,000 immigrants in Trump’s first month in office. On an annual basis, this is about 300,000—far from the “millions and millions” of immigrants Trump promised to deport. A lack of funding, immigration officers, immigration detention centers, and other resources has reportedly impeded the administration’s deportation work. The Trump administration is seeking $175 billion from Congress to use for the next four years on immigration enforcement, Axios reported on February 11, 2025. If Trump does make good on his promise of mass deportations, our research shows that removing millions of immigrants would be costly for everyone in the U.S., including American citizens and businesses. Food costs will increase One important factor is that mass deportations would weaken key industries in the U.S. that rely on immigrant workers, including those living in the U.S. illegally. Overall, immigrants without legal authorization make up about 5% of the total U.S. workforce. But that overall percentage doesn’t reflect these immigrants’ concentrated presence within various industries. Approximately half of U.S. farmworkers are living in the country without legal authorization, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Some of these immigrant farmworkers are skilled supervisors who make decisions about planting and harvesting. Others know how to use and maintain tractors, loaders, diggers, rakers, fertilizer sprayers, irrigation systems, and other machines crucial to farm operations. If those workers were to be suddenly removed from the country, Americans would see an increase in food costs, including what they spend on groceries and at restaurants. With fewer available workers to pick fruits and vegetables and prepare the food for shipment and distribution, the domestic production of food could decrease, leading to higher costs and more imports. National estimates of the restaurant and food preparation workforce, meanwhile, indicate that between 10% and 15% of those workers are immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Past state-level immigration enforcement policies offer an idea of what could happen at the national level if Trump were to carry out widespread deportations. For example, a 2011 Alabama law called HB-56 directed local police officers to investigate the immigration status of drivers stopped for speeding. It also prohibited landlords from renting properties to immigrants who do not have legal authorization to work or live in the country. That law and its resulting effects prompted some Alabama-based immigrant workers to leave the state following workplace raids. Their departure wound up costing the state an estimated $2.3 billion to $10.8 billion loss in Alabama’s annual gross domestic product due to the loss of workers and economic output. Other industries that rely on immigrants Part of the challenge of mass deportations for industries like construction, nearly a quarter of whose workers are living without legal authorization, is that their workforce is highly skilled and not easily replaced. Immigrant workers are particularly involved in home construction and specialize in such tasks as ceiling and flooring installation as well as roofing and drywall work. Fewer available workers would mean slower home construction, which in turn would make housing more expensive, further compounding existing problems of housing supply and affordability. Shocks from deportations would also slow commercial and public infrastructure construction. Six construction workers, for example, died in April 2024 in the sudden collapse of the Baltimore Key Bridge in Maryland. All of them were Latino immigrants living in the U.S. without legal documentation. Examining the arguments Trump administration officials and other politicians have argued that deporting large numbers of immigrants would help the country save money, since fewer people will use federal and state funds by attending public schools or receiving temporary shelter. Trump said in November 2024 that there is “no price tag” for large-scale deportations. “It’s not a question of price tag,” Trump said. “We have no choice. When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here,” Trump told NBC News. Trump and his supporters also argue that deporting immigrants would mean more jobs for American workers. But there is compelling evidence to the contrary. First, immigrants are filling labor shortages and doing jobs that many Americans don’t want to do, ones that might be unsafe or poorly paid. Even if Americans were willing to do those jobs, there simply aren’t enough Americans in the workforce to fill existing labor vacuums, let alone an enlarged one following deportations. Second, for employers, having fewer workers in the country translates into higher wages, which in turn means less capital to adapt and grow. For businesses based on consumer debt (think mortgages, car loans, and credit cards) deportations would disrupt the financial sector by removing responsible borrowers who make consistent payments. Third, immigrants living without legal documentation in the U.S. pay more than $96 billion in federal, state, and local taxes per year and consume fewer public benefits than citizens. Immigrants without legal authorization are not eligible for Social Security benefits and can’t enroll in Medicare or many other safety net programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The bottom line In other words, people who are living and working in the U.S. without legal authorization are helping to pay, through taxes, the costs of caring for Americans as they age and begin to draw on the nation’s retirement and healthcare programs. The burden from recent inflation notwithstanding, an economy supported by immigrants living illegally in the U.S. protects Americans. The U.S. would be unable to dodge the economic shocks and high costs that mass deportations would bring about. Francisco I. Pedraza is a professor of political science at Arizona State University. Jason L. Morín is a professor of political science at California State University, Northridge. Loren Collingwood is an associate professor of political science at the University of New Mexico. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

The return-to-office (RTO) pendulum continues to swing toward the wants of CEOs, and we expect this trend to continue. A 2024 survey of CEOs by KPMG found that 79% believe employees will be back in the office five days a week within three years—a dramatic increase from 2023’s survey. For many leaders, the workplace remains a vital tool for reinforcing company values and driving strategic alignment across teams. Yet, while employers prioritize a return to the collaboration, culture, and innovation that the office fosters, employees say they enjoy the autonomy and flexibility they’ve gained working remotely. If leaders don’t act consistently and communicate a RTO strategy effectively, they’ll further erode employee trust. As a designer and workplace strategist, I’ve been reflecting on how to design offices that encourage in-office collaboration, and engaging in deep conversations with clients about how they are implementing RTO policies. “Trust begins with leading by example,” Jon Martin told me recently. Martin is the North American CEO of AEW Capital Management, one of the world’s largest global real-estate investment managers. AEW is a client of my firm Elkus Manfredi Architects, and we helped them reimagine their headquarters in Boston. AEW currently doesn’t have a mandate for how many days a week its employees are expected to work out of its office. But its leadership team—like many others—has been explicit about its desire to promote a predominately in-office culture. To encourage employees to be in the office more often, AEW’s senior management team works in-person nearly full-time. “If you have a return-to-office policy, whatever it may be, and it is not upheld by leadership, you will lose credibility quickly,” says Martin. Success begins with transparency RTO policies often fail because inconsistent actions erode trust among employees, making it essential to align leadership actions with transparent communication. Employees often ask: “Are our leaders considering our needs? Are they asking for our insights? Will these mandates truly increase efficiency and purpose?” These are valid concerns that can be addressed through a thoughtfully designed process to maintain organizational trust. I know from experience that listening to and engaging with the people for whom you are designing is immensely important for creating solutions and ensuring buy-in. Research shows involving employees in policy development enhances their commitment to change initiatives. Best practices for company leaders to take include: Establish a shared vision before seeking feedback. Frame discussions around organizational goals to align responses with achieving these objectives rather than focusing solely on personal preferences. Ask for input within a structured framework. Provide context and priorities to guide decision-making rather than posing open-ended questions like, “Do you prefer working at the office or at home?” Be transparent about trade-offs. Set expectations early, acknowledging they’re unlikely to meet everyone’s needs perfectly, and balance individual preferences with broader organizational priorities. Incorporate feedback thoughtfully and communicate decisions clearly. Asking for input and then failing to address it—or worse, ignoring it entirely—can erode trust. Even if not all suggestions are implemented, explain decisions and how feedback shaped them. Mutual trust = a balanced solution When leadership demonstrates its trust in employees, staff are increasingly willing to collaborate on changes within their organizations. In fact, research finds that creating internal structures for feedback makes employees feel more included in organizational decisions and has downstream benefits on productivity and profitability. Leaders should also encourage employees to consider the broader impact of decisions on the business, fostering a sense of shared investment in a company’s path. Insights on team dynamics and performance can help leaders communicate the workplace strategies that support both individual and collective success. From intangible to innovative Crafting a successful return-to-office strategy is much like effective workplace design: Both transform intangible inputs—emotions, interests, and individual experiences—into solutions that benefit everyone. Martin sums up the stakes: “If your return to the office policy feels administrative, is inconsistently applied across your organization, or lacks support from leadership, it will be nearly impossible to have a shared vision and achieve success.” View the full article

Quick Response codes, also known as QR codes, serve as efficient tools for swiftly navigating various internet sites. If you’ve been wondering how to create a QR code, this guide is here to provide assistance. QR codes aim to facilitate users in obtaining speedy access to certain content without the need to manually input the URL. By simply aligning their smartphone’s camera with a QR code, users can be led to a specific online location. This can involve a wide range of activities such as mobile ticketing, presenting multimedia content, accessing a restaurant’s menu, incorporating a VR card contact into a user’s device, or guiding users to a specific webpage without typing in a particular URL. With QR codes, user engagement on smartphones can be significantly enhanced in various areas like accepting payments and marketing. Therefore, understanding how to create one becomes a pivotal skill in today’s digital world. How to Make a QR Code Creating QR codes is relatively simple. Use the following simple steps to create QR codes for your business. Decide the purpose of your QR code Before creating your QR code you will need to first decide what you want to use it for. Establishing the goal and purpose of the QR code can help you better use it. Most often QR codes are used for marketing efforts such as directing users to a specific website or to act on a particular Call to Action (CTA). Find a QR Code Generator Once you have established the purpose of your QR code, the next step is to find a QR code generator. A simple Google search can help you find many options for a QR code generator. Once you settled on a particular QR code generator, then you can go about the business of creating your QR code. Decide between a Static QR Code or a Dynamic QR Code When dealing with QR codes, you can choose between static and dynamic options. In simple terms, a static QR code is unchangeable; once the code is generated, the data it contains cannot be altered. In contrast, dynamic QR codes are flexible, allowing you to modify the destination as needed. Enter Information and Customize the QR Code Once you have decided between a static and dynamic QR code the next steps are to enter your data, customize your QR code, and generate your QR code. You must choose a QR code generator that supports your design needs for your custom QR code. Download Your QR Code After you generate your QR code you will need to download the QR code you’ve created by just clicking ‘download’. The best generator platforms will allow you to save QR images in different file formats. And the format you choose should take into consideration where you are going to use the QR barcode. For example, if you want to use your QR code for your print collateral then you will need to have a higher-quality format. Before going into mass printing runs or sharing your QR code make sure to preview it on your own and test whether your QR code is working by sending it to friends and colleagues. Here is the same in table form for easy reference. Step No.StepsDescription 1.Decide the purpose of your QR codeThis is the first step where you need to decide the goal of your QR code. It could be for marketing purposes like directing users to a specific website or engaging them with a particular call to action (CTA). 2.Find a QR Code GeneratorAfter you've determined your QR code's purpose, the next step is to find a suitable QR code generator. There are several options available online, and you need to choose one that fits your requirements best. 3.Decide between a Static QR Code or a Dynamic QR CodeYou can choose between a static or a dynamic QR code. A static QR code is fixed and the data stored in it cannot be changed once the code is generated. In contrast, a dynamic QR code can be changed as per your needs, allowing you to modify the destination. 4.Enter Information and Customize the QR CodeOnce you've decided on the type of QR code, you need to input your data, customize the design of your QR code, and generate it. The generator you choose should support your design needs for customization. 5.Download Your QR CodeThe final step involves downloading the generated QR code. The best generator platforms will let you save QR code images in various file formats. The format you select should align with where you plan to use the QR code. For instance, if the QR code is intended for print collateral, a high-quality format is needed. Always remember to test the QR code before mass printing or distribution. What Is a QR Code? Essentially, a QR code is a machine-scannable image similar to a bar code that can be immediately read using a smartphone camera. QR codes come with several black-and-white symbols placed horizontally and vertically, which convey certain pieces of information. When a camera from a Smartphone scans the QR code, it translates that information into something that humans can easily understand. Unlike bar codes, QR codes can hold over a hundred times more information, including email addresses, phone numbers, website URLs, and more. This video provides additional insights into the process of creating QR codes, as well as highlighting the diverse ways in which they can be used. It’s a fantastic resource for solidifying your understanding and getting practical visual guidance. So, after you’ve finished the article, be sure to check out the video for a more in-depth understanding. READ MORE: QR Code Uses for Marketing and Business Benefits of Using QR Codes QR Codes provide numerous applications for businesses and marketing, enabling you to connect with customers effortlessly. They assist in completing a range of tasks, such as displaying product details, downloading applications, tracking product deliveries, presenting menu offerings to restaurant customers, accessing social media platforms, facilitating access to websites and webinars, and even enabling money transfers. Some of the benefits QR codes offer include: They take up little space: Usually being small, QR-Codes will take up minimal space on your ad banner, pamphlet, product, or any other placement. This helps you convey as much information as possible without worrying about space limitations. They are easy to scan: By the fact that you can scan QR Codes through smartphones or tablets makes them accessible to anyone without requiring any special device to decipher the message. Offer high storage capacity: QR codes are designed to store a good amount of information. They can deliver vast amounts of information that include images, videos, URL links, and more. Connect your online content with offline media: You can use QR codes to link your print collateral which includes flyers, brochures, billboards, and business cards to your website or other online platforms. This also helps to mitigate frustrations that come with typing website links, typing social media addresses, or even typing in phone numbers. They work even when damaged: QR codes can work despite sustaining damage. QR codes can work even if only 30% of the code is unreadable. How Do QR Codes Work? QR codes work similarly to barcodes, with each QR code consisting of black squares and dots which represent different pieces of information. When generated QR codes are scanned, the unique patterns are instantly translated into human-readable data. Most modern smartphones come with inbuilt QR code scanners, and in case your smartphone does not come with one you can download free QR scanning apps from Google Play or the App Store. These apps, with a simple scan, reveal the information stored in the QR code. This easy-to-use technology has revolutionized the way we share and access information, making it a popular tool in various industries. READ MORE: QR Code Uses for Marketing and Business Generating QR Codes You can generate QR codes for free using any of the many freely available QR code software online, provided the QR solution is generated as a static QR code. Static QR codes come with an embedded URL with a fixed destination that does not need to be updated and is great for one-time marketing campaigns. Dynamic QR codes, on the other hand, can be editable and offer more features compared to Static QR Codes. Dynamic QR codes have a short URL embedded in the code, which can redirect the user to the destination website URL. The destination URL can be changed after the QR code has been generated, while the short URL embedded in the code remains the same. Dynamic QR codes require a paid subscription and can be protected using a password. READ MORE: Sharing Business WiFi Passwords Doesn’t Have to Be Hard, Use QR Codes Like This Scanning QR Codes Most smartphones come with their inbuilt QR code readers all you have to do is to point and tap to access the information embedded in the QR code. If your smartphone doesn’t come with a QR code scanner, you can download a free app for scanning QR codes. READ MORE: Sharing Business WiFi Passwords Doesn’t Have to Be Hard, Use QR Codes Like This Best QR Code Generator Options With a QR code, you can track usage, add calls to action, offer payment options, offer mobile ticketing, direct users to your website’s landing page, and more. Below are our top picks of the best QR code generators for small businesses. Beaconstac This code generator is used by big names that include Pepsi, Amazon, Revlon, Nestle, and the New York Times. Beaconstac’s QR code generator helps users to create branded QR codes; manage and personalize QR Code campaigns while at the same time running targeted social media ads. Its generated dynamic QR codes can be updated in real-time which comes in handy for marketing campaigns. QR Code Generator With QR Code Generator users have the option to generate QR codes for vCards, plain text, URL, Wi-Fi, email, SMS, Twitter, or for packaging. In addition, the free QR codes are also not trackable or editable. Users can even spruce up their QR codes by choosing between the free standard black-and-white design or opting for the paid pro plan to customize QR codes with more colors, add different frames, and add their company icon or logo. QRCode Monkey QRCode Monkey is a simple-to-use QR-generating app that lets users generate QR codes for free. With it, you can choose the type of content you want for your QR and can generate QR codes in the form of plain text, URL, email address, SMS, location, WiFi, Bitcoin, or social media links. QR Stuff QR Stuff lets users generate over 25 QR code data types including website URLs, video, Facebook, map location, SMS or email message, contact details, and more. With its free plan, users can create unlimited static QR codes for website URLs, social media platforms, and payments in addition to 10 dynamic QR codes. The limitation of the free plan is that there is a maximum of 50 scans allowed per code each month. In contrast, the paid tier available with a subscription of $12.95 provides extensive features, including unlimited static and dynamic QR codes, access to all file types, location-based QR codes, attendance tracking, comprehensive design options, and 200 tracking spreadsheets. QR Tiger QR Tiger is another popular QR code generator that helps to churn out custom QR codes for your business. With its free trial version, you can create three dynamic QR codes that come with the QRTiger logo popup, a 500-scan limit for dynamic QR codes, and unlimited scans for your static QR codes. Scanova Scanova lets you generate QR codes for a variety of uses that include websites, audio, documents, Facebook, videos, contact information, maps, and more. With Scanova’s Dynamic QR Codes, you can edit the content anytime without the need to change the QR Code. While its QR Code designer allows you to generate highly personalized QR Code designs by editing colors and patterns, and by adding your brand logo either in the center or as a background image without the need for a graphic designer. QR Code Creation Tips and Best Practices Using multiple QR codes can be a great tool to do business and market your products and services. Besides first testing whether the QR code works before sharing, consider these tips and best practices when using QR codes for your business. Determine the Purpose: Before you generate a QR code, it’s important to determine its purpose. It might be used for sharing a URL, providing Wi-Fi information, sending an email, or displaying plain text. Quality Matters: Ensure the printed quality of your QR code is good. Poor quality or tiny prints can cause the code to fail. Add a design to QR codes: By adding designs to your QR codes, you help them stand out and encourage users to scan them. Adding designs and branding elements will give life to your QR codes and make them visually appealing compared to the standard black-and-white QR Codes. Consider Color and Contrast: Avoid using inverted colors. Ensure there’s enough contrast between the QR code and its background for easy scanning. Add Call-to-Action text: If your goal is to use QR codes for your print promotions, you should add call-to-action (CTA) text that informs the target audience of what the QR Code does. Don’t forget size and scannability: Make sure your QR code has the right size and can be easily scanned. Nothing is frustrating for the users if they have to point their cameras at a QR Code and nothing happens. So, factor in the QR codes’ size, color contrast, scanning distance, and lighting when designing your QR code. Make sure they are linked to mobile-optimized content: A majority of QR codes are designed for use on mobile devices. If your landing page or QR code content is not mobile-optimized, it will end with the user not engaging with the content. Test Before Sharing: Always test your generated QR code before sharing it with others. A non-functional QR code can be a source of inconvenience. Make sure it is accessible: A QR Code can only be scanned if it is easily accessible to users. You will need to ensure both safe scanning distance and easy access to mobile internet. QR Codes placed on moving vehicles, far-off billboards, and the bottom of banners reaching the ground level can discourage users from scanning them. Check for Unlimited Use: If you plan to use the QR code extensively, ensure the generator you are using doesn’t cap the usage. Advanced Features of QR Codes Geo-Tagging QR codes with geo-tagging allow businesses to provide content tailored to the user’s location. This feature is particularly useful for location-based marketing and providing region-specific information. Encrypted Data QR codes can encrypt sensitive information, ensuring secure data transfer. This is particularly important for industries dealing with confidential data or financial transactions. Augmented Reality Integration Integrating QR codes with augmented reality technology is creating new possibilities in advertising, education, and entertainment. Users can access enhanced, interactive content by scanning these QR codes. Design Considerations for QR Codes Scan-ability It’s crucial to ensure that QR codes are easily scannable. Complex designs can interfere with readability, so maintaining simplicity in design is key. Visual Appeal Customize QR codes with brand-specific colors and logos to make them more attractive and aligned with your marketing strategy. Size and Placement The size of the QR code should be appropriate for the expected scanning distance. Placement is equally important; QR codes should be positioned where they are easily accessible and visible. Analytics and Tracking with QR Codes User Data Analytics By monitoring QR code scans, businesses can obtain valuable insights into user engagement, preferences, and behavioral patterns, which can help refine their marketing strategies. Campaign Performance Metrics QR codes can be used to track the performance of marketing campaigns, providing key metrics like conversion rates, user interaction, and engagement post-scanning. Security and Privacy Concerns with QR Codes Safe Usage Practices To reduce risks such as phishing and malware threats, it is essential to inform users about safe practices for scanning QR codes. Data Privacy When encoding personal information in QR codes, ensuring data privacy and compliance with regulations is vital to maintain user trust and legal conformity. Future of QR Codes and Emerging Trends AI and Machine Learning Integration Future advancements in QR technology may include AI integration for personalized content delivery and machine learning enhancements for a more refined user experience. Expanded Applications The future will likely see QR codes used in innovative ways across various industries such as smart homes, automotive, and personalized healthcare, broadening their applicability and utility. What Is the Best Free QR Code Generator? QRCode Monkey is considered among the best free QR code generators and lets you design QR codes for vCards, plain text, URLs, Wi-Fi, email, SMS, Twitter, or for packaging. The free platform lets users create, track and edit all their QR codes in one place. In addition, the free QR codes have no limitations, with all generated QR codes working forever, do not expire, and have no scanning limits like you see at other commercial QR code generators. The created QR codes are static, so the only limitation is that you can’t edit the QR code again. Do QR Codes Expire? QR codes do not have an expiration date, and they will continue functioning as long as the Quick Link attached to it is active. A QR code will not work if the particular QR generator you are using has a cap on unlimited use. QR codes may not function if they are printed in poor quality, use inverted colors, are too small, have a poor contrast ratio, and are overcrowded. What Is the Safest QR Code Generator? Beaconstac is considered the safest QR code generator to create codes. It comes with SOC 2 Type 1 certification, offering data encryption, best-in-class privacy practices, and threat-detection safeguards for a QR Code solution. It also touts integration with over 4,000 platforms, including Zapier, Workato, Make, and others. Image: Envato Elements This article, "EXACTLY How to Create a QR Code the Easy Way" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Quick Response codes, also known as QR codes, serve as efficient tools for swiftly navigating various internet sites. If you’ve been wondering how to create a QR code, this guide is here to provide assistance. QR codes aim to facilitate users in obtaining speedy access to certain content without the need to manually input the URL. By simply aligning their smartphone’s camera with a QR code, users can be led to a specific online location. This can involve a wide range of activities such as mobile ticketing, presenting multimedia content, accessing a restaurant’s menu, incorporating a VR card contact into a user’s device, or guiding users to a specific webpage without typing in a particular URL. With QR codes, user engagement on smartphones can be significantly enhanced in various areas like accepting payments and marketing. Therefore, understanding how to create one becomes a pivotal skill in today’s digital world. How to Make a QR Code Creating QR codes is relatively simple. Use the following simple steps to create QR codes for your business. Decide the purpose of your QR code Before creating your QR code you will need to first decide what you want to use it for. Establishing the goal and purpose of the QR code can help you better use it. Most often QR codes are used for marketing efforts such as directing users to a specific website or to act on a particular Call to Action (CTA). Find a QR Code Generator Once you have established the purpose of your QR code, the next step is to find a QR code generator. A simple Google search can help you find many options for a QR code generator. Once you settled on a particular QR code generator, then you can go about the business of creating your QR code. Decide between a Static QR Code or a Dynamic QR Code When dealing with QR codes, you can choose between static and dynamic options. In simple terms, a static QR code is unchangeable; once the code is generated, the data it contains cannot be altered. In contrast, dynamic QR codes are flexible, allowing you to modify the destination as needed. Enter Information and Customize the QR Code Once you have decided between a static and dynamic QR code the next steps are to enter your data, customize your QR code, and generate your QR code. You must choose a QR code generator that supports your design needs for your custom QR code. Download Your QR Code After you generate your QR code you will need to download the QR code you’ve created by just clicking ‘download’. The best generator platforms will allow you to save QR images in different file formats. And the format you choose should take into consideration where you are going to use the QR barcode. For example, if you want to use your QR code for your print collateral then you will need to have a higher-quality format. Before going into mass printing runs or sharing your QR code make sure to preview it on your own and test whether your QR code is working by sending it to friends and colleagues. Here is the same in table form for easy reference. Step No.StepsDescription 1.Decide the purpose of your QR codeThis is the first step where you need to decide the goal of your QR code. It could be for marketing purposes like directing users to a specific website or engaging them with a particular call to action (CTA). 2.Find a QR Code GeneratorAfter you've determined your QR code's purpose, the next step is to find a suitable QR code generator. There are several options available online, and you need to choose one that fits your requirements best. 3.Decide between a Static QR Code or a Dynamic QR CodeYou can choose between a static or a dynamic QR code. A static QR code is fixed and the data stored in it cannot be changed once the code is generated. In contrast, a dynamic QR code can be changed as per your needs, allowing you to modify the destination. 4.Enter Information and Customize the QR CodeOnce you've decided on the type of QR code, you need to input your data, customize the design of your QR code, and generate it. The generator you choose should support your design needs for customization. 5.Download Your QR CodeThe final step involves downloading the generated QR code. The best generator platforms will let you save QR code images in various file formats. The format you select should align with where you plan to use the QR code. For instance, if the QR code is intended for print collateral, a high-quality format is needed. Always remember to test the QR code before mass printing or distribution. What Is a QR Code? Essentially, a QR code is a machine-scannable image similar to a bar code that can be immediately read using a smartphone camera. QR codes come with several black-and-white symbols placed horizontally and vertically, which convey certain pieces of information. When a camera from a Smartphone scans the QR code, it translates that information into something that humans can easily understand. Unlike bar codes, QR codes can hold over a hundred times more information, including email addresses, phone numbers, website URLs, and more. This video provides additional insights into the process of creating QR codes, as well as highlighting the diverse ways in which they can be used. It’s a fantastic resource for solidifying your understanding and getting practical visual guidance. So, after you’ve finished the article, be sure to check out the video for a more in-depth understanding. READ MORE: QR Code Uses for Marketing and Business Benefits of Using QR Codes QR Codes provide numerous applications for businesses and marketing, enabling you to connect with customers effortlessly. They assist in completing a range of tasks, such as displaying product details, downloading applications, tracking product deliveries, presenting menu offerings to restaurant customers, accessing social media platforms, facilitating access to websites and webinars, and even enabling money transfers. Some of the benefits QR codes offer include: They take up little space: Usually being small, QR-Codes will take up minimal space on your ad banner, pamphlet, product, or any other placement. This helps you convey as much information as possible without worrying about space limitations. They are easy to scan: By the fact that you can scan QR Codes through smartphones or tablets makes them accessible to anyone without requiring any special device to decipher the message. Offer high storage capacity: QR codes are designed to store a good amount of information. They can deliver vast amounts of information that include images, videos, URL links, and more. Connect your online content with offline media: You can use QR codes to link your print collateral which includes flyers, brochures, billboards, and business cards to your website or other online platforms. This also helps to mitigate frustrations that come with typing website links, typing social media addresses, or even typing in phone numbers. They work even when damaged: QR codes can work despite sustaining damage. QR codes can work even if only 30% of the code is unreadable. How Do QR Codes Work? QR codes work similarly to barcodes, with each QR code consisting of black squares and dots which represent different pieces of information. When generated QR codes are scanned, the unique patterns are instantly translated into human-readable data. Most modern smartphones come with inbuilt QR code scanners, and in case your smartphone does not come with one you can download free QR scanning apps from Google Play or the App Store. These apps, with a simple scan, reveal the information stored in the QR code. This easy-to-use technology has revolutionized the way we share and access information, making it a popular tool in various industries. READ MORE: QR Code Uses for Marketing and Business Generating QR Codes You can generate QR codes for free using any of the many freely available QR code software online, provided the QR solution is generated as a static QR code. Static QR codes come with an embedded URL with a fixed destination that does not need to be updated and is great for one-time marketing campaigns. Dynamic QR codes, on the other hand, can be editable and offer more features compared to Static QR Codes. Dynamic QR codes have a short URL embedded in the code, which can redirect the user to the destination website URL. The destination URL can be changed after the QR code has been generated, while the short URL embedded in the code remains the same. Dynamic QR codes require a paid subscription and can be protected using a password. READ MORE: Sharing Business WiFi Passwords Doesn’t Have to Be Hard, Use QR Codes Like This Scanning QR Codes Most smartphones come with their inbuilt QR code readers all you have to do is to point and tap to access the information embedded in the QR code. If your smartphone doesn’t come with a QR code scanner, you can download a free app for scanning QR codes. READ MORE: Sharing Business WiFi Passwords Doesn’t Have to Be Hard, Use QR Codes Like This Best QR Code Generator Options With a QR code, you can track usage, add calls to action, offer payment options, offer mobile ticketing, direct users to your website’s landing page, and more. Below are our top picks of the best QR code generators for small businesses. Beaconstac This code generator is used by big names that include Pepsi, Amazon, Revlon, Nestle, and the New York Times. Beaconstac’s QR code generator helps users to create branded QR codes; manage and personalize QR Code campaigns while at the same time running targeted social media ads. Its generated dynamic QR codes can be updated in real-time which comes in handy for marketing campaigns. QR Code Generator With QR Code Generator users have the option to generate QR codes for vCards, plain text, URL, Wi-Fi, email, SMS, Twitter, or for packaging. In addition, the free QR codes are also not trackable or editable. Users can even spruce up their QR codes by choosing between the free standard black-and-white design or opting for the paid pro plan to customize QR codes with more colors, add different frames, and add their company icon or logo. QRCode Monkey QRCode Monkey is a simple-to-use QR-generating app that lets users generate QR codes for free. With it, you can choose the type of content you want for your QR and can generate QR codes in the form of plain text, URL, email address, SMS, location, WiFi, Bitcoin, or social media links. QR Stuff QR Stuff lets users generate over 25 QR code data types including website URLs, video, Facebook, map location, SMS or email message, contact details, and more. With its free plan, users can create unlimited static QR codes for website URLs, social media platforms, and payments in addition to 10 dynamic QR codes. The limitation of the free plan is that there is a maximum of 50 scans allowed per code each month. In contrast, the paid tier available with a subscription of $12.95 provides extensive features, including unlimited static and dynamic QR codes, access to all file types, location-based QR codes, attendance tracking, comprehensive design options, and 200 tracking spreadsheets. QR Tiger QR Tiger is another popular QR code generator that helps to churn out custom QR codes for your business. With its free trial version, you can create three dynamic QR codes that come with the QRTiger logo popup, a 500-scan limit for dynamic QR codes, and unlimited scans for your static QR codes. Scanova Scanova lets you generate QR codes for a variety of uses that include websites, audio, documents, Facebook, videos, contact information, maps, and more. With Scanova’s Dynamic QR Codes, you can edit the content anytime without the need to change the QR Code. While its QR Code designer allows you to generate highly personalized QR Code designs by editing colors and patterns, and by adding your brand logo either in the center or as a background image without the need for a graphic designer. QR Code Creation Tips and Best Practices Using multiple QR codes can be a great tool to do business and market your products and services. Besides first testing whether the QR code works before sharing, consider these tips and best practices when using QR codes for your business. Determine the Purpose: Before you generate a QR code, it’s important to determine its purpose. It might be used for sharing a URL, providing Wi-Fi information, sending an email, or displaying plain text. Quality Matters: Ensure the printed quality of your QR code is good. Poor quality or tiny prints can cause the code to fail. Add a design to QR codes: By adding designs to your QR codes, you help them stand out and encourage users to scan them. Adding designs and branding elements will give life to your QR codes and make them visually appealing compared to the standard black-and-white QR Codes. Consider Color and Contrast: Avoid using inverted colors. Ensure there’s enough contrast between the QR code and its background for easy scanning. Add Call-to-Action text: If your goal is to use QR codes for your print promotions, you should add call-to-action (CTA) text that informs the target audience of what the QR Code does. Don’t forget size and scannability: Make sure your QR code has the right size and can be easily scanned. Nothing is frustrating for the users if they have to point their cameras at a QR Code and nothing happens. So, factor in the QR codes’ size, color contrast, scanning distance, and lighting when designing your QR code. Make sure they are linked to mobile-optimized content: A majority of QR codes are designed for use on mobile devices. If your landing page or QR code content is not mobile-optimized, it will end with the user not engaging with the content. Test Before Sharing: Always test your generated QR code before sharing it with others. A non-functional QR code can be a source of inconvenience. Make sure it is accessible: A QR Code can only be scanned if it is easily accessible to users. You will need to ensure both safe scanning distance and easy access to mobile internet. QR Codes placed on moving vehicles, far-off billboards, and the bottom of banners reaching the ground level can discourage users from scanning them. Check for Unlimited Use: If you plan to use the QR code extensively, ensure the generator you are using doesn’t cap the usage. Advanced Features of QR Codes Geo-Tagging QR codes with geo-tagging allow businesses to provide content tailored to the user’s location. This feature is particularly useful for location-based marketing and providing region-specific information. Encrypted Data QR codes can encrypt sensitive information, ensuring secure data transfer. This is particularly important for industries dealing with confidential data or financial transactions. Augmented Reality Integration Integrating QR codes with augmented reality technology is creating new possibilities in advertising, education, and entertainment. Users can access enhanced, interactive content by scanning these QR codes. Design Considerations for QR Codes Scan-ability It’s crucial to ensure that QR codes are easily scannable. Complex designs can interfere with readability, so maintaining simplicity in design is key. Visual Appeal Customize QR codes with brand-specific colors and logos to make them more attractive and aligned with your marketing strategy. Size and Placement The size of the QR code should be appropriate for the expected scanning distance. Placement is equally important; QR codes should be positioned where they are easily accessible and visible. Analytics and Tracking with QR Codes User Data Analytics By monitoring QR code scans, businesses can obtain valuable insights into user engagement, preferences, and behavioral patterns, which can help refine their marketing strategies. Campaign Performance Metrics QR codes can be used to track the performance of marketing campaigns, providing key metrics like conversion rates, user interaction, and engagement post-scanning. Security and Privacy Concerns with QR Codes Safe Usage Practices To reduce risks such as phishing and malware threats, it is essential to inform users about safe practices for scanning QR codes. Data Privacy When encoding personal information in QR codes, ensuring data privacy and compliance with regulations is vital to maintain user trust and legal conformity. Future of QR Codes and Emerging Trends AI and Machine Learning Integration Future advancements in QR technology may include AI integration for personalized content delivery and machine learning enhancements for a more refined user experience. Expanded Applications The future will likely see QR codes used in innovative ways across various industries such as smart homes, automotive, and personalized healthcare, broadening their applicability and utility. What Is the Best Free QR Code Generator? QRCode Monkey is considered among the best free QR code generators and lets you design QR codes for vCards, plain text, URLs, Wi-Fi, email, SMS, Twitter, or for packaging. The free platform lets users create, track and edit all their QR codes in one place. In addition, the free QR codes have no limitations, with all generated QR codes working forever, do not expire, and have no scanning limits like you see at other commercial QR code generators. The created QR codes are static, so the only limitation is that you can’t edit the QR code again. Do QR Codes Expire? QR codes do not have an expiration date, and they will continue functioning as long as the Quick Link attached to it is active. A QR code will not work if the particular QR generator you are using has a cap on unlimited use. QR codes may not function if they are printed in poor quality, use inverted colors, are too small, have a poor contrast ratio, and are overcrowded. What Is the Safest QR Code Generator? Beaconstac is considered the safest QR code generator to create codes. It comes with SOC 2 Type 1 certification, offering data encryption, best-in-class privacy practices, and threat-detection safeguards for a QR Code solution. It also touts integration with over 4,000 platforms, including Zapier, Workato, Make, and others. Image: Envato Elements This article, "EXACTLY How to Create a QR Code the Easy Way" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

U.S. consumers often pay more for gluten-free products, yet these items typically provide less protein and more sugar and calories compared with gluten-containing alternatives. That is the key finding of my new study, published in the journal Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. This study compared gluten-free products with their gluten-containing counterparts, and the findings suggested that many perceived benefits of gluten-free products—such as weight control and diabetes management—are exaggerated. Currently, many gluten-free products lack dietary fiber, protein, and essential nutrients. Manufacturers often add supplements to compensate, but the incorporation of dietary fibers during processing can hinder protein digestion. In addition, gluten-free products generally contain higher sugar levels compared with other products containing gluten. Long-term adherence to a gluten-free diet has been associated with increased body mass index, or BMI, and nutritional deficiencies. Gluten-free products—defined in the U.S. as those that contain less than or equal to 20 parts per million of gluten—largely lack wheat, rye, barley, and sometimes oats, all rich sources of arabinoxylan, a crucial nonstarch polysaccharide. Arabinoxylan provides several health benefits, including promoting beneficial gut bacteria, enhancing digestion, regulating blood sugar levels, and supporting a balanced gut microbiota. Our study also pointed out that it is difficult to find a gluten-free product that excels in all nutritional areas, such as high protein and fiber content with low carbohydrates and sugar. On the other hand, gluten-free seeded bread contains significantly more fiber—38.24 grams per 100 grams—than its gluten-containing counterparts. This is likely due to efforts by manufacturers to address fiber deficiencies by using ingredients such as pseudo-cereals, such as amaranth and quinoa hydrocolloids (water-soluble macromolecules used in gluten-free baked goods made with quinoa flour). These improvements, however, vary by manufacturer and region. For example, gluten-free products in Spain tend to have lower fiber content than their gluten-containing counterparts. Why it matters The term gluten-free diet has become a buzzword, much like organic, and is now a part of everyday life for many people, often without a full understanding of its actual benefits. While a gluten-free diet is a medical necessity for people who are sensitive to gluten, a condition called celiac disease, or for those with wheat allergies, others adopt a gluten-free diet due to perceived health benefits or because it’s a trend. In 2024, the global gluten-free product market was valued at $7.28 billion and projected to reach $13.81 billion by 2032. The U.S. market share is estimated to be $5.9 billion—a little less than half of the global figure. Approximately 25% of the U.S. population consumes gluten-free products. This figure is far higher than the the roughly 6% of people with non-celiac wheat sensitivity, 1% of people with celiac disease and even lower percentages of people with wheat allergies. This suggests that many people adopt gluten-free diets for reasons other than medical necessity, which may not offer health or financial benefits. What’s next Investment in research and development is essential to create more nutritionally balanced gluten-free products using locally available ingredients. This will require human feeding trials with different formulations of gluten-free products to ensure that these products meet nutritional needs without adverse effects. Collaborations between governments could help secure subsidies, which would reduce production costs and make these products more affordable. Although the initial costs of research and maintaining a gluten-free production line are high, using local ingredients and financial incentives can make these products more cost-competitive compared with their gluten-containing counterparts. Public education is also important to keep people informed about the pros and cons associated with a gluten-free diet. Sachin Rustgi is an associate professor of molecular breeding at Clemson University. The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

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This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Coworker keeps giving me praise I don’t deserve When I got my current job a year ago, I filled a specific niche that they really needed. For the first few months, I was making a ton of new content for the organization, and making edits to existing content. Some of this was honestly low-effort, but because no one knew anything about my field, I was getting high praise for just about anything. Then after those months, requests for new content trickled down and I only had to make edits every once in a blue moon, so I shifted to doing more administrative parts of my role. Eventually I got to a point where there’s not much else that needs to be addressed and my required workload is fairly light. I’m not complaining! Now, though, the busy season has started up for me again and I have a coworker who I love working with, but she gives me so much praise I feel I don’t deserve! Example: She requested help with some content I had made last year, and gave me insight that I had overlooked a feature, so I made a simple change to a piece of content I had made and apologized for not including the option originally. She responded with a gushing email saying it’s super fine, I’m so busy making so much content with requests left and right, etc. But I’m not! And this is a common theme with this coworker; anytime she has a request, she assumes I’m super busy because when I first started and had a backlog of content to make, I was. But most of the year I was not busy, and I just feel so awkward when she says things like that. Minor problem, I know, and maybe it’s not a problem really at all. But I’d like some advice! One option is to just let it go. It’s not a big deal that she’s super gushy. But if you really feel uncomfortable with it, you could say, “Truly, I have plenty of time for work like this and I’m happy to do it.” Or even, “Our content is in a good place right now so I’m not spending as much time on this stuff as I was originally — and I really like doing it, so don’t ever hesitate to ask me to help with it.” If she keeps gushing and assuming you’re swamped after that, so be it. You’ll have attempted to set the record straight and don’t need to keep explaining. At that point you can shift to, “Always happy to do it!” 2. Can employers ask if you’re a registered voter? Yesterday my husband asked me That Question: “Is this legal?” I offered to email you and he agreed. Husband is retired and saw that a local campground had part-time openings for the summer, mainly being on-site and available to guests. The application, along with more typical questions, asks, “Are you a registered voter and if so where?” Background: Our area is rural and the small, touristy town that operates the campground has a Resort Board, two or three homeowners’ associations, and probably a local taxation district — which always seem to be feuding with each other and/or the mayor. What worries me is that they might want to see proof, like his voter ID, which has his party affiliation. The vast majority here are both Republican and ardent supporters of the current administration/regime. Husband isn’t either one (neither am I). Is it legal for a potential employer to ask if you’re registered to vote and where? In any case, what should he answer, or should he leave it blank? If it comes up in an interview, any suggested responses? (I did tell Husband I thought it might be a legal but possibly unwise question.) They can legally ask if you’re registered to vote, but it’s an odd question and I’d want to know why they’re asking. There are some positions that specifically set out to hire locally, or are required to hire people who live in a certain county or township, but they typically just ask if you’re a legal resident of X; voter registration is a whole different question. If your husband is interested in the job, he might as well go ahead and apply and either leave the question blank or answer “yes.” If he advances in their interview process and they ask anything more about it, he can respond, “Why do you ask?” and see what they say. You’re allowed to do that with intrusive or surprising questions in interviews! When you apply, you’re not committing to lay bare anything the employer might inquire about; you can push back, ask why they’re asking, or decline to answer. There may be consequences to doing that, of course, but if the alternative is that he doesn’t apply at all, I’d say he should throw his hat in the ring and see how it plays out. 3. I’m being ghosted by my current employer — can I tell my team why I’m leaving? I’ve been a contractor to a start-up for three years doing projects for a particular team. After their manager quit on short notice, I agreed to be interim team manager. Legally I’m an hourly contractor but functionally I’m an employee. While I was clear I didn’t want this role, I said I’d do it temporarily because I believe in the company. After much back and forth without any path out of the manager role, I quit (with my next gig lined up for 30 hours/week). My boss’s boss asked me if there was any time I could spare and I agreed to 10 hours/week in a different role related to the team (an analyst, not the daily operational support to the team) since they can’t afford to hire full-time. He said he’d get the contract to me ASAP, and then … crickets the past three weeks. My manager contract ends in two weeks so I had to tell my team I’ll no longer be their manager and vaguely said I’d be moving to another role internally. My direct boss really doesn’t know what’s happening so he hasn’t communicated to me or the team. I’d understand the decision to reneg on the 10 hours/week offer since they may not have the funds or the need, but there’s no communication at all. I’ve checked in politely a couple times on Slack, and just set a meeting on my boss’s boss calendar called “contract check-in.” I don’t want to assume I’m being professionally ghosted and am continuing my duties, but all signs point to it. If that’s the case, can I just tell my team that’s what happened? Otherwise they won’t realize it’s goodbye, or will think I’m just flaky. It’s a small industry and I’m tempted to work for their direct competitors with all the industry knowledge I’ve gained from this company, which is more a spite move than anything else. If I were truly spiteful, I’d pursue through legal means since they’ve done “hidden employment” and really should be paying into my government’s payroll taxes. I know spite is never the answer but boy am I tempted! My boss’s boss thinks he’s invincible and I’d just like to take him down a peg personally. Financially, I’m FIRE and moving out of the industry anyway so I don’t see any real repercussions here. Yes, you can tell your team what’s going on; you don’t need to just disappear one day without explanation. The professional way to do it is to keep it neutral but factual (i.e., don’t sound bitter about it, even if you are): “I’d agreed to manage the team short-term but not as a long-term solution. My contract for that work is coming to an end on (date) and we’d discussed my staying on in a part-time analyst role, but from what I can tell, it doesn’t look like that will be happening, so as things stand right now I’m planning for my last day to be (date).” Also, it’s not spiteful to hold a company to its legal obligations! There can be political considerations that complicate that, but give real thought to pursuing the pay you’re entitled to. 4. Can I ask a full-time job if they’d consider hiring me part-time? Is it ever okay to email an employer to ask if they would consider hiring a part-time candidate for a position advertised as full-time? This particular company is hiring on a “continuing basis” (it’s a support staff position), and when I have been there they typically have three or four people working at a time. Is it ridiculous to contact them and see if a 40-hour position could be made 20 or maybe even 30? And if they say no, would that affect my chances if I decide I do, in fact, want to apply for full-time? Sure, you can ask. They may or may not be open to it, but there’s nothing wrong with asking. When you email, include your resume so they can get a better idea of whether you’re someone they’d consider it for. Even if they say no, it’s unlikely to harm your chances with that employer in the future, although if you do decide to apply for full-time work there at some point, they might want to probe into how committed you really are to full-time (to make sure they’re not setting up a situation where they hire you full-time but you quickly ask to move to part-time). 5. When should I tell prospective employers I won’t need health insurance? I’m taking my retirement from the federal government after 26 years of service, which includes health insurance. I’m only in my late 40s so I’m searching for a new job outside of government. At what point in the application/interview process do I mention that I don’t need health insurance? Thanks to the annuity, I don’t need to have as high pay as I did while working for the government. Not sure how to convey that while also not shooting myself in the foot. It shouldn’t come up until the offer stage, at which point you can explain that you won’t need health insurance and ask if they offer a credit for employees who don’t use their plan. Some companies do (typically as a separate line item in your benefits, not just added to your salary) and some companies don’t — but it’s more of an administrative item to raise at the offer stage, not before that. View the full article

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