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The Super Bowl is one of the world’s most significant single-day sporting events. It attracts over 100 million U.S. viewers and tens of millions of international viewers, making it an entertainment phenomenon. For Eagles fans who are not making the trip to the Superdome in New Orleans, there will be plenty of places to watch in Philadelphia—including rowdy bars, living rooms and even home tailgates, all while the city is lit in Eagles green. For me, the Super Bowl is a real-life laboratory. As a sports scientist, neuropsychology professor and the former athletic director at Drexel University in Philadelphia, I investigate how high-performance athletes prepare cognitively and psychologically for a winning performance on game day. When the stakes are at their highest, what can psychology reveal about who is mentally prepared to win the Super Bowl? Tough-minded and open to experience Research suggests that super-elite athletes are tough-minded and not easily rattled. Their psychological profiles look similar to those of high-performance solo classical guitarists or fighter pilots. On personality tests, athletes typically score at least average in extroversion, openness and agreeableness, and high in conscientiousness. Professional athletes work incredibly hard and are disciplined, well organized, goal-oriented, reliable, and generally sociable. A new focus in personality research in competitive athletes is on creativity and, specifically, being open to experience, which includes being receptive to new ideas and being flexible. Openness has become increasingly important in the modern blueprint for winning football games. Daniel Memmert, a sports scientist at German Sport University Cologne, calls this “tactical creativity.” It is a cognitive style that allows one to be imaginative and engage in divergent thinking—which is an ability to think flexibly outside of routines and devise multiple solutions—even in real-time competitive situations. Divergent thinking in high-performance sports includes focusing on the task at hand and paying attention to relevant information while ignoring irrelevant information in the athletic arena. The creative athlete knows when and where to look in order to win a play or avoid a costly error. Creative and cool under pressure Creativity is essential in unscripted football plays—when a planned play has not been executed properly, like a fumble or an interception. Intentionally distracting your opponent has become an important part of sports competition. It is why quarterbacks often change the play at the line of scrimmage. But it becomes even more critical during improvised offensive plays when everything is unscripted. In a sport where milliseconds matter, being creative and engaging in something your opponent doesn’t expect can be the difference between winning and losing. When the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018, backup quarterback Nick Foles calmly executed a trick play on fourth-and-goal, becoming the first player in history to both throw and catch a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl. The play is now called the Philly Special. To engage in tactical creativity, however, an athlete must be relaxed. That’s not easy when millions of people are watching your every move. Brain connectivity at its finest Performance anxiety is a leading cause of poor athletic performance. Research suggests an athlete’s competitive anxiety can be cumulative and maybe even be contagious, affecting teammates negatively. That makes the Super Bowl as much a battle of nerves as it is about the physical execution of plays. So, how do professional athletes do it? The athlete practices how to think as much as they practice to play. Training is intentionally hard and uncomfortable to assist with preparing the body and mind. Since emotions and thoughts affect behavior and performance, the concept of emotional self-regulation—or intentionally focusing on the present moment—has been introduced into competitive sports. Mindfulness, meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and grounding techniques are now integral to the toolkit for high-performance sports. For athletes, it is relatively easy to elevate their emotions to push the ball forward with a play like the Philadelphia brotherly shove—an almost unstoppable offensive play used by the Eagles in which the team pushes the quarterback through the opponent’s defense for a short gain when needed. But calming those emotions to execute a synchronized, attacking, complex passing play is more challenging cognitively. A successful football player must easily transition from being highly aroused to remaining composed on command within seconds. This cognitive efficiency and fluidity requires many hours to master. I am fully aware that while watching the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, I am not just observing a great, innovative quarterback; I am witnessing brain connectivity at its finest. Psychology of Eagles fans How fans experience Super Bowl Sunday is entirely different, psychologically speaking, from the players. To perform at the highest level, the players are process oriented. They attempt to be present in real time and play without fear. On game day, it is advantageous for the competitor to play like a kid, full of joy and confidence. Fans, on the other hand, are results oriented. And they are nervous wrecks, like parents watching their kids compete. One remedy for managing this stress is watching the game with other fans. Philadelphians represent diverse socioeconomic and ethnic groups that often unite through sports. These social connections—which Germans, who were among the first settlers in the city, call Gemeinschaftsgefühl—are a hallmark of good psychological health. I know I will never forget when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII: the game, the season and the parade. And new research indicates why. According to University of California, Berkeley psychology professor Dacher Keltner, these authentic “awe” moments are shortcuts to happiness. Football fans might experience awe when a seemingly unpredictable interception or touchdown has significant consequences. In other words, the thrill of the game and the excitement of winning not only unite fans, but they can also transform them into happier versions of themselves. Eric Zillmer is a professor of neuropsychology at Drexel University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

Are you ready for it? February 9 is Super Bowl Sunday. The Kansas City Chiefs are looking for the first-ever “three-peat” in Super Bowl history, while the Philadelphia Eagles are looking for redemption after their last unsuccessful attempt for the Lombardi Trophy . . . against the Chiefs. Super Bowl LIX is a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, in 2023, which the Chiefs won 38-35, and was the start of their three-peat quest. (Fun fact: The term three-peat was actually trademarked by NBA legend Pat Riley back in the late 1980s when he was head coach of the L.A. Lakers. This past week, the NFL struck a deal with Riley to use it if the Chiefs win.) Here’s what you need to know about Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, including where to tune in and how to stream it live: High interest in Super Bowl 2025 commercials While diehard sports fans are hoping to see a great game with some really stellar plays, other viewers are there for the halftime show or maybe even the commercials. Not your basic TV commercials, Super Bowl commercials can captivate a crowd sometimes as much as the game itself (sometimes more). That’s because brands spend big bucks on Super Bowl commercials, and ad agencies burn countless brain cells coming up with clever and creative campaigns. The reason? The Super Bowl is the most-watched TV broadcast in the U.S. every year. Some of the ads for Super Bowl 59 have been teased or even released ahead of time in an effort to create more buzz: For a Hellmann’s Mayonnaise spot called “When Sally Met Hellmann’s,” Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal recreate the famous deli scene from 1989’s When Harry Met Sally. For Taco Bell, rapper Doja Cat is caught in a Taco Bell drive-through, and David Beckham learned some family secrets when working with Stella Artois. More about the three-peat Technically, winning three consecutive championship games has been done before in the NFL, just not in the so-called Super Bowl era. In 1966, the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL) merged and created the Super Bowl as the championship game. This change wiped previous records, so stats before the merger are not officially counted. If they were, the Green Bay Packers would be credited for having “three-peated” twice. How to watch the Super Bowl on a TV Viewers with traditional cable or an over-the-air antenna can tune in to Fox: Game time is 6:30 p.m. ET, with the pregame kicking off at 1 p.m. ET. And in a pair of firsts, Tom Brady makes his debut calling the game for Fox Sports from the broadcast booth in the Superdome, where he won his first Super Bowl as quarterback for the New England Patriots in 2002. You can also see the game on a live-TV streaming service that includes Fox as part of a bundle, including: Tubi (free option) Fubo DirecTV Stream Sling TV YouTube TV Hulu with Live TV Note: This is the first time the Super Bowl will be available on Tubi, where viewers can watch it for free. How to watch the Super Bowl on a mobile device You can stream the game on a phone or tablet (iOS and Android) via the NFL app. View the full article

Not sure what to use a QR code for in business? Or perhaps you just want more examples of using QR codes in your next marketing campaign? Whatever your purpose, our list of 50 creative ways to use QR codes is sure to trigger ideas to boost brand awareness, attract an audience, close more sales, operate more efficiently, and support customers better. A QR code is a type of barcode anyone can scan and read with the camera in their smartphone. QR code stands for Quick Response code (“quick” because consumers can scan the QR code with a smartphone and get instant access to the information or be directed somewhere, such as a website, to take action). QR codes are now ubiquitous, appearing on pizza boxes, flyers, receipts, signs, shop doors, and even on plants and toilet seats! Consumers have finally discovered how simple it is to scan QR codes using a camera app on their mobile devices. After scanning, QR codes can direct users to a PDF, landing page, or video, initiate a text message conversation, and offer many other possibilities. It’s not just consumers who are catching on. Small business people and marketers have also discovered how to create a QR code. Using online tools, creating them is easy, fast — and often free. Ways to Use QR Codes for Business You can put QR codes on just about everything. Once you find a QR code generator and generate a QR code, simply download it as an image file. Place it anywhere you place an image. But first, you must have a company strategy for using QR codes. Here are 50 QR code examples: Marketing QR Codes Direct Mail A flyer or print postcard can boost local marketing campaigns. Use a QR code to take the recipient to the carryout order section of your website. Print Ads Bring your readers from print ads to your digital platforms. Infographic Include a QR code in an infographic leading to a page to subscribe to your newsletter. Map Directions Put a QR code on a brochure leading to a Google Map with directions to your place of business. Read more tips about retail marketing. Contest Entry Dynamic QR codes can be used to direct someone to enter a contest or giveaway. For more on using SMS, see SMS marketing best practices. Customer Survey Place a QR code on a receipt and make it one step easier for a customer to be taken to a feedback survey. No manually typing in a URL. Connect Salespeople Directly You can connect salespeople directly for faster response with QR codes. Coupons Be like Wayfair and add a QR code to a mailer. Users capture a discount coupon number in one simple action instead of manually typing all digits at checkout in an online purchase. Stop Updating Costs for Real-time Information With dynamic codes, you can update real-time information without changing the codes you already have. Interactive Video Ads Take a page out of a Burger King campaign and turn an advertisement into an interactive experience. The Burger King ad has a QR code floating across the screen. Scanning the code with a smartphone takes users to a page with downloadable coupons. See on YouTube here. Mobile Marketing SMS Lists Send SMS messages to subscribers to opt-in with QR codes instead of their phone numbers. Carryout Transactions Do like Little Caesar’s Pizza and deploy a QR code system for no-contact pickups of carryout orders. See how it works. Packaging and Labels Cans and Jars Put QR codes on labels, leading to web pages with more product information. See photo above. Boxes Add QR codes with a message prompting people to give a testimonial or register a product. Wrapping Paper Enhance your wrapping paper’s effectiveness in attracting repeat customers by incorporating a QR code that encourages them to subscribe to your email list for upcoming deals. There’s no need to invest in custom wrapping; just attach QR code stickers instead. Limit Packaging Reducing packaging while providing additional images, warranties, and paperwork through QR code uses. Social Media Uses Like on Facebook Page This QR code takes you to a special social media page where you can Like the Facebook page of Small Business Trends. All Social Icons in One Instead of cluttering marketing materials with multiple icons for Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, use one dynamic QR code that sends visitors to a single landing page with links to all. Signs Digital Signs Add a scannable coupon on digital signs to increase sales. Real Estate For Sale Sign The codes on the for sale sign can send your potential homeowner to a virtual tour of the house you are selling. Pop-up Banners Place QR codes on vertical banners in front of your restaurant so users can scan for your carryout menu. Or put a banner in your retail store with information for a product displayed nearby. Shopping Experience Scan to Pay Add “scan to pay” QR codes to invoices you send to get paid faster. Or see if your POS software offers the option. Streamline Ordering Streamline orders by providing QR codes directly to a particular product. Receive a Coupon Use a QR code that takes people to where they can claim a discount coupon. Self-Serve Ordering and Payment The Square Self-Serve Ordering solution provides a contactless dining and payment option for restaurants with QR codes. Patrons use their smartphones to look at the menu, order and pay. Invite to Review Include a scannable decal on your door to invite a consumer to visit your business reviews on the Better Business Bureau site (businesses get the QR code from the BBB). Join WiFi Network Show guests to your facility a static code to allow them jto oin your WiFi network without manually entering a password. Read: QR Codes for WiFi. Pre-fill eCommerce Shopping Carts Encourage customers with codes to reorder automatically by refilling shopping carts with items they have ordered in the past. Place Orders A South Korean grocery store placed a stand in a subway station with QR codes of items for sale. Shoppers scan codes to purchase groceries, which the store then delivers to their homes. PayPal QR Code With the PayPal app, sellers can download a QR code that enables shoppers to scan and pay with their PayPal account. Events Tradeshow Banners and Displays Attendees can scan their QR codes from a sign or banner and be prompted to get a special show discount. Branded Swag and Promotional Items If you give away promotional items like coffee mugs, mousepads, and journal books, why not add QR codes? Customize the codes to include your branding. Name Tags When name tags feature QR codes, exhibitors can gather metrics to assess booth traffic. To encourage attendees to allow you to scan their QR codes, consider offering a prize drawing as an incentive. T-Shirts Have people wear your t-shirts with QR codes to drive them to your booth or other destinations. Calendar Instead of putting the events on dates of a calendar, put QR codes with more engaging and interactive information. Lead Follow-up QR codes provide a convenient method for following up on leads generated at a conference. Instead of manually entering contact details like name, phone number, email address, and company from business cards, these details can be gathered and stored in a database. Communication and Contact Business Card The QR codes on business cards can connect your customers to your site, social media, restaurant menu, products, and more. Emails Use Dynamic QR Codes to supplement your email marketing campaigns. The tracking data will let you know how well you are doing with each scan. Direct Call Add a phone number to your QR codes so that when scanned by a smartphone it will dial the number. Resume Codes on a resume can lead your potential employer to learn more about you by viewing videos and projects online. Handouts Include QR codes in handouts at your next speaking engagement or conference. Mobile Phone Case Place a custom QR tag on a cell phone case for your name, email address, or other contact information in case you lose it. The design will be a conversation starter, too. Stickers Get custom QR stickers or decals made. Then, use the stickers on anything you want to send users to your social media pages or your website. Ideas: See at Etsy. Greeting Cards Create beautiful greeting cards that, when scanned, open a YouTube video or audio file for an interactive greeting to clients. Ideas at Etsy. Bitcoin Wallet Address Bitcoin and other crypto codes are almost impossible to remember. If you are in person, you can scan the other party’s QR code to send Bitcoin. Or, put your Bitcoin address into a code integrated into a keychain or piece of jewelry to always have it nearby. Product Information Parts or Service Scanning a QR code on a product can take the user to parts information or manuals. If you provide handyman or repair services, incorporate QR codes into your process. See example above. Installation You can direct your customers to a link where they can get instructions and more information on how to install your products. Care Instructions An orchid plant grower used QR codes on labels to help consumers find care instructions. See the nursery owner’s 1-minute video explaining. Inventory Management and Tracking Store product details, part numbers, and plain text in your code to quickly access identifying information. Scan for Authentication Have your customers verify the item they own is an authentic piece and not a counterfeit. QR Codes in Business: Unlocking Versatile Marketing and Operational Solutions In today’s digital age, QR codes have become an indispensable tool for businesses, offering a seamless bridge between physical and digital worlds. QR codes, or Quick Response codes, are easily scannable barcodes read through smartphone cameras, providing instant access to a wide array of information and actions. Their versatility has led to widespread adoption across various industries, enabling businesses to enhance customer engagement, streamline operations, and bolster marketing efforts. From marketing campaigns to operational efficiencies, QR codes open up a multitude of possibilities. They can direct customers to landing pages, initiate text message conversations, offer detailed product information, facilitate contactless transactions, and much more. QR codes are now a common sight in various settings – be it on product packaging, in-store displays, business cards, or even in unconventional places like plant labels or restroom advertisements. The ease of creating QR codes using online tools has encouraged businesses to integrate them into their strategies. Whether it’s for direct mail campaigns, interactive video ads, digital signage, or facilitating carryout transactions, QR codes have proven to be an effective and cost-efficient solution. They’re particularly useful for small businesses, offering a simple yet powerful way to connect with customers, provide valuable information, and enhance the overall customer experience. Incorporating QR codes into business operations not only elevates marketing strategies but also simplifies processes like payments, order placements, and customer feedback collection. With their ability to store and transmit diverse types of data, QR codes serve as a gateway to digital content, making them a critical component in the toolkit of modern businesses. As the landscape of business continues to evolve, QR codes stand out as a versatile and innovative solution, enabling businesses to stay ahead in a competitive market by offering convenience, efficiency, and a touch of technological sophistication. Quick Response Code Popularity QR codes were invented in Japan over 25 years ago. While popular in parts of the world in the past decade, they failed to catch on in North America right away. Partially, it was a technology barrier. When marketers first started using QR codes, consumers didn’t know what to do with them. Some people lacked a smartphone with a good imaging device. Things are different now. According to the Pew Center, 81% of Americans have smartphone devices, and among those aged 18 to 29, it is 96%. According to Brett Narlinger of Blackhawk Networks, mobile wallet adoption jumped to 55% following the pandemic. Newer smartphones operate seamlessly with mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Wallet. Interest in contactless solutions skyrocketed, and payment platforms stepped up, making QR code uses part of plug-and-play solutions for small businesses. The time is right for retailers, restaurant owners, home service providers, franchisees, and other small businesses to use QR codes on marketing material, for payments and mobile marketing transactions, and for customer service. Get Started Using QR Codes Here’s a simple guide to help you start using QR codes effectively in your business or marketing endeavors: Explore the Possibilities: QR code uses span a variety of applications. They can be utilized in marketing, customer engagement, and improving operational efficiency, providing multiple opportunities to enhance your business. Select an Example: Begin by choosing one or more examples from the list of 50 creative ways to use QR codes provided earlier. Select options that align with your business goals and target audience. Research QR Code Generators: There are various online tools and software available that allow you to generate QR codes for free or at a minimal cost. Research and choose a QR code generator that suits your needs. Some popular options include QR Code Generator, QRStuff, and QRickit. Choose the Content for Your QR Code: Identify the content you wish to link to your QR code. This might include a website URL, contact details, a video link, a PDF download, or any other pertinent information. Generate the QR Code: Use the chosen QR code generator to create your QR code. Input the content you’ve decided upon and customize the design if necessary. Most generators will provide you with a downloadable image file of the QR code. Position the QR Code: After obtaining your QR code, determine the ideal location for it. Think about the context and intended use of the QR code. Suitable placements include marketing materials, product packaging, business cards, signage, promotional items, or even on digital platforms. Test the QR Code: Before widely distributing the QR code, test it yourself to ensure that it functions as intended. Use a smartphone with a camera and a QR code scanning app to scan the code and confirm that it leads to the desired destination. Deploy in Your Strategy: Integrate the QR code into your business or marketing strategy. Communicate the presence and purpose of the QR code to your target audience, whether through promotional materials, signage, or online platforms. Monitor and Analyze: Many QR code generators offer tracking and analytics features that allow you to monitor how often the code is scanned and the success of your QR code campaigns. Use this data to refine your strategy over time. Experiment and Learn: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different QR code applications and placements. Learn from the results and gather feedback from customers to understand what works best for your audience. Stay Updated: Keep up with QR code trends and innovations. As technology evolves, new possibilities for QR code usage may emerge that could benefit your business. StepDescription Explore the PossibilitiesUnderstand the diverse applications of QR codes, from marketing to operational efficiency. Select an ExampleChoose specific QR code applications that align with your business goals and target audience. Research QR Code GeneratorsExplore online tools to generate QR codes. Choose a suitable generator based on your needs. Decide on QR Code ContentDetermine the content you want to associate with the QR code, such as a URL, contact info, or video. Generate the QR CodeUse a chosen QR code generator to create the QR code. Customize its design and generate the image. Place the QR CodeDecide where to place the QR code, considering context. It could be on marketing materials or more. Test the QR CodeEnsure functionality by scanning the QR code with a smartphone to verify that it leads correctly. Deploy in Your StrategyIntegrate the QR code into your business strategy and communicate its purpose to your target audience. Monitor and AnalyzeUse QR code generators with tracking features to measure scans and campaign success. Experiment and LearnTry various QR code applications, gather feedback, and adapt based on the results. Stay UpdatedKeep up with QR code trends and innovations to leverage new possibilities for your business. Remember, QR codes offer a versatile and dynamic way to engage with your audience and enhance various aspects of your business. With a bit of creativity and strategic thinking, you can unlock their potential and create unique experiences for your customers. Visit our guide on creating QR codes, including a list of the best QR code generators. Image: Depositphotos, SBT Media This article, "The Best QR Code Uses for Marketing and Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Not sure what to use a QR code for in business? Or perhaps you just want more examples of using QR codes in your next marketing campaign? Whatever your purpose, our list of 50 creative ways to use QR codes is sure to trigger ideas to boost brand awareness, attract an audience, close more sales, operate more efficiently, and support customers better. A QR code is a type of barcode anyone can scan and read with the camera in their smartphone. QR code stands for Quick Response code (“quick” because consumers can scan the QR code with a smartphone and get instant access to the information or be directed somewhere, such as a website, to take action). QR codes are now ubiquitous, appearing on pizza boxes, flyers, receipts, signs, shop doors, and even on plants and toilet seats! Consumers have finally discovered how simple it is to scan QR codes using a camera app on their mobile devices. After scanning, QR codes can direct users to a PDF, landing page, or video, initiate a text message conversation, and offer many other possibilities. It’s not just consumers who are catching on. Small business people and marketers have also discovered how to create a QR code. Using online tools, creating them is easy, fast — and often free. Ways to Use QR Codes for Business You can put QR codes on just about everything. Once you find a QR code generator and generate a QR code, simply download it as an image file. Place it anywhere you place an image. But first, you must have a company strategy for using QR codes. Here are 50 QR code examples: Marketing QR Codes Direct Mail A flyer or print postcard can boost local marketing campaigns. Use a QR code to take the recipient to the carryout order section of your website. Print Ads Bring your readers from print ads to your digital platforms. Infographic Include a QR code in an infographic leading to a page to subscribe to your newsletter. Map Directions Put a QR code on a brochure leading to a Google Map with directions to your place of business. Read more tips about retail marketing. Contest Entry Dynamic QR codes can be used to direct someone to enter a contest or giveaway. For more on using SMS, see SMS marketing best practices. Customer Survey Place a QR code on a receipt and make it one step easier for a customer to be taken to a feedback survey. No manually typing in a URL. Connect Salespeople Directly You can connect salespeople directly for faster response with QR codes. Coupons Be like Wayfair and add a QR code to a mailer. Users capture a discount coupon number in one simple action instead of manually typing all digits at checkout in an online purchase. Stop Updating Costs for Real-time Information With dynamic codes, you can update real-time information without changing the codes you already have. Interactive Video Ads Take a page out of a Burger King campaign and turn an advertisement into an interactive experience. The Burger King ad has a QR code floating across the screen. Scanning the code with a smartphone takes users to a page with downloadable coupons. See on YouTube here. Mobile Marketing SMS Lists Send SMS messages to subscribers to opt-in with QR codes instead of their phone numbers. Carryout Transactions Do like Little Caesar’s Pizza and deploy a QR code system for no-contact pickups of carryout orders. See how it works. Packaging and Labels Cans and Jars Put QR codes on labels, leading to web pages with more product information. See photo above. Boxes Add QR codes with a message prompting people to give a testimonial or register a product. Wrapping Paper Enhance your wrapping paper’s effectiveness in attracting repeat customers by incorporating a QR code that encourages them to subscribe to your email list for upcoming deals. There’s no need to invest in custom wrapping; just attach QR code stickers instead. Limit Packaging Reducing packaging while providing additional images, warranties, and paperwork through QR code uses. Social Media Uses Like on Facebook Page This QR code takes you to a special social media page where you can Like the Facebook page of Small Business Trends. All Social Icons in One Instead of cluttering marketing materials with multiple icons for Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, use one dynamic QR code that sends visitors to a single landing page with links to all. Signs Digital Signs Add a scannable coupon on digital signs to increase sales. Real Estate For Sale Sign The codes on the for sale sign can send your potential homeowner to a virtual tour of the house you are selling. Pop-up Banners Place QR codes on vertical banners in front of your restaurant so users can scan for your carryout menu. Or put a banner in your retail store with information for a product displayed nearby. Shopping Experience Scan to Pay Add “scan to pay” QR codes to invoices you send to get paid faster. Or see if your POS software offers the option. Streamline Ordering Streamline orders by providing QR codes directly to a particular product. Receive a Coupon Use a QR code that takes people to where they can claim a discount coupon. Self-Serve Ordering and Payment The Square Self-Serve Ordering solution provides a contactless dining and payment option for restaurants with QR codes. Patrons use their smartphones to look at the menu, order and pay. Invite to Review Include a scannable decal on your door to invite a consumer to visit your business reviews on the Better Business Bureau site (businesses get the QR code from the BBB). Join WiFi Network Show guests to your facility a static code to allow them jto oin your WiFi network without manually entering a password. Read: QR Codes for WiFi. Pre-fill eCommerce Shopping Carts Encourage customers with codes to reorder automatically by refilling shopping carts with items they have ordered in the past. Place Orders A South Korean grocery store placed a stand in a subway station with QR codes of items for sale. Shoppers scan codes to purchase groceries, which the store then delivers to their homes. PayPal QR Code With the PayPal app, sellers can download a QR code that enables shoppers to scan and pay with their PayPal account. Events Tradeshow Banners and Displays Attendees can scan their QR codes from a sign or banner and be prompted to get a special show discount. Branded Swag and Promotional Items If you give away promotional items like coffee mugs, mousepads, and journal books, why not add QR codes? Customize the codes to include your branding. Name Tags When name tags feature QR codes, exhibitors can gather metrics to assess booth traffic. To encourage attendees to allow you to scan their QR codes, consider offering a prize drawing as an incentive. T-Shirts Have people wear your t-shirts with QR codes to drive them to your booth or other destinations. Calendar Instead of putting the events on dates of a calendar, put QR codes with more engaging and interactive information. Lead Follow-up QR codes provide a convenient method for following up on leads generated at a conference. Instead of manually entering contact details like name, phone number, email address, and company from business cards, these details can be gathered and stored in a database. Communication and Contact Business Card The QR codes on business cards can connect your customers to your site, social media, restaurant menu, products, and more. Emails Use Dynamic QR Codes to supplement your email marketing campaigns. The tracking data will let you know how well you are doing with each scan. Direct Call Add a phone number to your QR codes so that when scanned by a smartphone it will dial the number. Resume Codes on a resume can lead your potential employer to learn more about you by viewing videos and projects online. Handouts Include QR codes in handouts at your next speaking engagement or conference. Mobile Phone Case Place a custom QR tag on a cell phone case for your name, email address, or other contact information in case you lose it. The design will be a conversation starter, too. Stickers Get custom QR stickers or decals made. Then, use the stickers on anything you want to send users to your social media pages or your website. Ideas: See at Etsy. Greeting Cards Create beautiful greeting cards that, when scanned, open a YouTube video or audio file for an interactive greeting to clients. Ideas at Etsy. Bitcoin Wallet Address Bitcoin and other crypto codes are almost impossible to remember. If you are in person, you can scan the other party’s QR code to send Bitcoin. Or, put your Bitcoin address into a code integrated into a keychain or piece of jewelry to always have it nearby. Product Information Parts or Service Scanning a QR code on a product can take the user to parts information or manuals. If you provide handyman or repair services, incorporate QR codes into your process. See example above. Installation You can direct your customers to a link where they can get instructions and more information on how to install your products. Care Instructions An orchid plant grower used QR codes on labels to help consumers find care instructions. See the nursery owner’s 1-minute video explaining. Inventory Management and Tracking Store product details, part numbers, and plain text in your code to quickly access identifying information. Scan for Authentication Have your customers verify the item they own is an authentic piece and not a counterfeit. QR Codes in Business: Unlocking Versatile Marketing and Operational Solutions In today’s digital age, QR codes have become an indispensable tool for businesses, offering a seamless bridge between physical and digital worlds. QR codes, or Quick Response codes, are easily scannable barcodes read through smartphone cameras, providing instant access to a wide array of information and actions. Their versatility has led to widespread adoption across various industries, enabling businesses to enhance customer engagement, streamline operations, and bolster marketing efforts. From marketing campaigns to operational efficiencies, QR codes open up a multitude of possibilities. They can direct customers to landing pages, initiate text message conversations, offer detailed product information, facilitate contactless transactions, and much more. QR codes are now a common sight in various settings – be it on product packaging, in-store displays, business cards, or even in unconventional places like plant labels or restroom advertisements. The ease of creating QR codes using online tools has encouraged businesses to integrate them into their strategies. Whether it’s for direct mail campaigns, interactive video ads, digital signage, or facilitating carryout transactions, QR codes have proven to be an effective and cost-efficient solution. They’re particularly useful for small businesses, offering a simple yet powerful way to connect with customers, provide valuable information, and enhance the overall customer experience. Incorporating QR codes into business operations not only elevates marketing strategies but also simplifies processes like payments, order placements, and customer feedback collection. With their ability to store and transmit diverse types of data, QR codes serve as a gateway to digital content, making them a critical component in the toolkit of modern businesses. As the landscape of business continues to evolve, QR codes stand out as a versatile and innovative solution, enabling businesses to stay ahead in a competitive market by offering convenience, efficiency, and a touch of technological sophistication. Quick Response Code Popularity QR codes were invented in Japan over 25 years ago. While popular in parts of the world in the past decade, they failed to catch on in North America right away. Partially, it was a technology barrier. When marketers first started using QR codes, consumers didn’t know what to do with them. Some people lacked a smartphone with a good imaging device. Things are different now. According to the Pew Center, 81% of Americans have smartphone devices, and among those aged 18 to 29, it is 96%. According to Brett Narlinger of Blackhawk Networks, mobile wallet adoption jumped to 55% following the pandemic. Newer smartphones operate seamlessly with mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Wallet. Interest in contactless solutions skyrocketed, and payment platforms stepped up, making QR code uses part of plug-and-play solutions for small businesses. The time is right for retailers, restaurant owners, home service providers, franchisees, and other small businesses to use QR codes on marketing material, for payments and mobile marketing transactions, and for customer service. Get Started Using QR Codes Here’s a simple guide to help you start using QR codes effectively in your business or marketing endeavors: Explore the Possibilities: QR code uses span a variety of applications. They can be utilized in marketing, customer engagement, and improving operational efficiency, providing multiple opportunities to enhance your business. Select an Example: Begin by choosing one or more examples from the list of 50 creative ways to use QR codes provided earlier. Select options that align with your business goals and target audience. Research QR Code Generators: There are various online tools and software available that allow you to generate QR codes for free or at a minimal cost. Research and choose a QR code generator that suits your needs. Some popular options include QR Code Generator, QRStuff, and QRickit. Choose the Content for Your QR Code: Identify the content you wish to link to your QR code. This might include a website URL, contact details, a video link, a PDF download, or any other pertinent information. Generate the QR Code: Use the chosen QR code generator to create your QR code. Input the content you’ve decided upon and customize the design if necessary. Most generators will provide you with a downloadable image file of the QR code. Position the QR Code: After obtaining your QR code, determine the ideal location for it. Think about the context and intended use of the QR code. Suitable placements include marketing materials, product packaging, business cards, signage, promotional items, or even on digital platforms. Test the QR Code: Before widely distributing the QR code, test it yourself to ensure that it functions as intended. Use a smartphone with a camera and a QR code scanning app to scan the code and confirm that it leads to the desired destination. Deploy in Your Strategy: Integrate the QR code into your business or marketing strategy. Communicate the presence and purpose of the QR code to your target audience, whether through promotional materials, signage, or online platforms. Monitor and Analyze: Many QR code generators offer tracking and analytics features that allow you to monitor how often the code is scanned and the success of your QR code campaigns. Use this data to refine your strategy over time. Experiment and Learn: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different QR code applications and placements. Learn from the results and gather feedback from customers to understand what works best for your audience. Stay Updated: Keep up with QR code trends and innovations. As technology evolves, new possibilities for QR code usage may emerge that could benefit your business. StepDescription Explore the PossibilitiesUnderstand the diverse applications of QR codes, from marketing to operational efficiency. Select an ExampleChoose specific QR code applications that align with your business goals and target audience. Research QR Code GeneratorsExplore online tools to generate QR codes. Choose a suitable generator based on your needs. Decide on QR Code ContentDetermine the content you want to associate with the QR code, such as a URL, contact info, or video. Generate the QR CodeUse a chosen QR code generator to create the QR code. Customize its design and generate the image. Place the QR CodeDecide where to place the QR code, considering context. It could be on marketing materials or more. Test the QR CodeEnsure functionality by scanning the QR code with a smartphone to verify that it leads correctly. Deploy in Your StrategyIntegrate the QR code into your business strategy and communicate its purpose to your target audience. Monitor and AnalyzeUse QR code generators with tracking features to measure scans and campaign success. Experiment and LearnTry various QR code applications, gather feedback, and adapt based on the results. Stay UpdatedKeep up with QR code trends and innovations to leverage new possibilities for your business. Remember, QR codes offer a versatile and dynamic way to engage with your audience and enhance various aspects of your business. With a bit of creativity and strategic thinking, you can unlock their potential and create unique experiences for your customers. Visit our guide on creating QR codes, including a list of the best QR code generators. Image: Depositphotos, SBT Media This article, "The Best QR Code Uses for Marketing and Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

As millions of Americans gear up for the Super Bowl—stocking the fridge with wing sauce, beer, and myriad other snacks and confections—employers are also preparing for the inevitable avalanche of sick-day requests on Monday. Last year, the day after Super Bowl Sunday (dubbed “Super Bowl Monday”) saw nearly two-thirds more sick-day requests than the average day in 2024, and 51% more requests than the average day in February, according to recent data from cloud-based human capital management software company Paycom. Interestingly, employers seem to empathize, as the data also shows that managers approved 91% of sick-day requests on Super Bowl Monday last year, which was the second-highest percentage of approved sick days for the entire year. The data was sourced from sick-day and time-off requests made by 6.8 million workers in Paycom’s data set. Super Bowl Monday has long been a day when many people call in sick or otherwise take off from work, as many are recovering from the food-and-booze-fueled frenzy of watching the big game. Last year’s Super Bowl LVIII drew nearly 124 million viewers, the largest TV audience on record. For reference, that’s roughly 35% of the U.S. population. And workers are already prepared to miss work. Survey data from UKG released last week found that nearly 23 million employees in the U.S. are already planning to stay home on Monday. That’s a significant increase from the 16.1 million who did so last year, and the 18.8 million who did so following the 2023 Super Bowl (which also featured the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles). But again, UKG’s data also shows that managers are more or less accommodating—perhaps because they want to take a day off themselves. “We launched this research years ago to start a conversation to help organizations prepare for unplanned absences—people playing hooky or ghosting work altogether—because of the Super Bowl and other pop-culture events that impact work,” said Julie Develin, senior partner of HCM advisory at UKG, in a release. “Although a record number of employees plan to miss work on Monday,” Develin said, “we continue to see forward progress with managers and employees having more open conversations about taking the day off, swapping shifts, or making arrangements to come in late so that the business is covered.” View the full article

For two guys about to fly a camera rig 30 miles per hour above the heads of clashing players, Alex Milton and Vinnie Scaffidi seem utterly at ease. Despite the fact that some 100 million people are about to watch their work in real time during Super Bowl LIX, the SkyCam pilot and operator, respectively, are not daunted. They’re ready. They got to New Orleans around 10 days before the big game. They’ve set up. They’ve rehearsed. They’ve got the entire season under their belt. And, well, now is the fun part. “It’s exciting to get to the end of the year and everyone’s playing for real,” from the camera people to the production crew to the players themselves, Milton says. “Everyone’s doing the best they can. So when it comes, I’m like, ‘Yes, all right, here we go.’” You’ve likely seen their work before in one of the hundreds of games they’ve shot. That’s because SkyCam pilots and operators occupy a bit of a rarefied space—Milton says there are only around 20 pilots and 20 operators—and the best and most experienced tend to work in tight-knit teams like these two, where instinct and symbiotic connection combine to capture some of the most dramatic moments in sport at large. [Photo: SkyCam] EYE IN THE SKYCAM Contrary to what you might think, SkyCam is not a drone, nor is it automated. A pilot “drives” it. Or rather, they technically control the four taut cables that the 45-pound camera head is mounted to, which spool in and out as the pilot moves the rig around the stadium in real time. (Those cables are a feat of engineering in their own right—though they’re thinner than an iPhone cord, they’re made of braided kevlar and can hold up to 800 pounds each, and they have the ability to carry fiber optics and electrical signals.) Milton, 38, was raised in upstate New York, and now lives in Moab, Utah. He got into television by way of “lifting boxes and unloading golf carts.” He says he networked his way to the folks who ran and built jibs. After getting an operating job, he started working on his pilot’s license, and word of his dual interest reached the SkyCam team, who invited him for a tryout. Scaffidi, meanwhile, operates the Sony HDC-P50 1080p HDR camera on board the SkyCam. The 66-year-old was raised and lives in New York state, and has a deep background in sporting events. In the ’90s, when remote robotic cameras cropped up for hockey, basketball, and other sports, he was right there—and when SkyCam needed camera controllers, he was there, too. “Now he’s just operating a robotic camera that happens to be flying,” Milton says. Despite its technological advances, SkyCam is a relatively old system. Inventor Garrett Brown—the guy who also won an Academy Award for creating the Steadicam—designed it in the early 1980s. It debuted in a football game a few years later, and took a more prominent role in the sport in the early 2000s, delivering viewpoints not unlike those in the popular Madden NFL video game series, and offering perspectives that on-field cameras can’t replicate. Milton says SkyCam was initially used for replays, but in the modern era it constantly appears on live broadcasts, and the list of shots keeps growing—so much so that today’s football viewers have come to expect it. “Now, everybody wants it,” Scaffidi says. “I feel like we’ve crossed a line,” Milton adds. [Photo: SkyCam] TALENT, IN TANDEM At this point, Milton is on his sixth Super Bowl. Scaffidi says it’s his “ninth or . . . tenth.” The pair says that you generally start at the bottom, in, say, college games, and work your way up from there. Directors and producers take a shine to certain people’s styles—the way they fly, the way they shoot—and often end up requesting specific pilots and ops. After a while, “As long as you’re doing your job well, that’s your seat,” Milton says. “Everybody’s very comfortable with each other, and we know what they expect from us and what we expect from them,” Scaffidi adds. “As the games escalate, eventually you get to the Super Bowl. And we never like to say the Super Bowl is just another game, but that’s kind of what it is. At the core of it, it’s still essentially a football game.” So they do what they do. They sit shoulder to shoulder in an operating location overlooking the field, with a feed of their SkyCam. Scaffidi uses a rocker switch to zoom, a rolling wheel to focus, and a stick to pan and tilt the camera. Milton sits with his face 6 inches from the screen and uses two joysticks; one controls the direction of the rig, and the other the camera elevation. Fox Sports says that at the Super Bowl, Milton will be capturing the main action at a height of 12 to 35 feet, while another team operates at an altitude of 55 to 90 feet for broad shots. “Vinnie and I are listening to a headset, listening to our announcers tell a story,” Milton says. “We’re trying to match their story as best we can visually.” If the announcers reference a player, the pair finds him. They also think ahead to where the game or conversation might lead next—and they go there. If someone turns their back to an on-field camera, the team glides in place to offer a fresh angle, racing back and forth between the main plays. “We’re just moving all over the field and trying to sell all kinds of shots,” Milton says. Meanwhile, the two are constantly communicating in a stream of consciousness: “That guy ran off; where did he go?” As one person looks, the other counts down the clock and tells him when the ball is about to be in play. “Wait, who just landed that tackle? I’ll watch him; you shoot the player who got injured.” The two are very much a bonded pair who know each other’s instincts—and the game for viewers at home is all the better for it. Milton says SkyCam tries to keep continuity between its pilots and ops, and so do the networks. “Alex and I can almost do this in our sleep, we know each other so well,” Scaffidi says. “It just shaves off a couple of seconds here and there. And that can make all the difference.” A SkyCam Wildcat crew preps for an NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, in December 2024. [Photo: Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images] A FLOW STATE Sure, shit happens. Milton says that in his 13 years working for SkyCam, two cameras have hit the field from technical issues—one from loss of power, and one from a computer crash, essentially. But none have involved player contact, and it’s always been when the field is empty. (Safety is “the utmost responsibility” at all times, he says.) Milton and Scaffidi try not to dwell on the possibilities, and they scale their approach to how the system is performing on a given day. “When I’m really confident and everything’s working really well, and everything’s in place, we’re jamming, man. We’re getting right in the huddle. We want to see eyes,” Milton says. “And then when you’re a little nervous and you’ve had some equipment issues, you start backing off those things, taking a menu item off. . . . You can’t just run the camera the same all the time.” Like the sport of football itself, camera operating is highly manual. It has not been automated—and the process is surprisingly human. “I dirt bike and mountain bike. I love motorcycles. I really like machines and feeling connected—and I feel some major connection to this camera, and how it moves, and how it feels,” Milton says. “It’s a flow activity for me. Vinnie and I, when we’re flying—not that we are the camera, but we’re really feeling it and really working together—that’s the coolest part of this job.” In a game that thrives on elemental bonds to achieve the extraordinary (this year, Jalen Hurts and AJ Brown, Patrick Mahomes and DeAndre Hopkins, Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase), perhaps the remarkable thing about SkyCam is not the action viewers see but rather the team behind the scenes. View the full article

The move to electric vehicles is the auto industry’s biggest transformation since cars replaced horses early last century. Just about every traditional automaker is going through its own reckoning with the EV transition, one that presents huge opportunity—and existential risk. So far, it has been rough. Buyers haven’t turned up in the numbers the industry projected just a few years ago. Now many automakers are racking up heavy losses on their EV businesses. Many traditional automakers have had trouble cranking up their EV factories and getting the battery technology right. Some carmakers are now slow-walking their plans for new factories and scrapping some future electric models. Some have dubbed this the EV winter. And yet, battery plants and electric-car factories are still going up across a swath of the Midwest and South. Dozens of new battery powered models will hit U.S. showrooms this year, backed by multimillion-dollar ad campaigns. As messy as the EV story is today, automakers can’t afford to rip up their EV strategies. That’s because two forces that pushed the legacy automakers down the electric path in the first place aren’t letting up. Elon Musk’s Tesla and a slew of surging Chinese players are mobilizing to extend their leads in what many industry players still see as the future of transportation. You might be wondering why the EV transition has been such a slog for traditional carmakers like General Motors, Ford Motor, and Volkswagen. An electric car still has four doors and brakes and a dashboard. It is actually a simpler design mechanically than a combustion-engine car, and can be assembled more quickly. Why would legacy carmakers need to spend gobs of money and mental energy to figure this out? First, it requires a massive rewiring of supply chains. Swapping out the guts of the car from an engine and transmission to battery and motors is like a combo heart-and-lungs transplant. And the stuff the automakers need for the transition to EVs is generally not the stuff that they are good at. Batteries, motors, and electronics—those are the domain of big Asian suppliers like LG and Panasonic and China’s CATL. If the world gravitates to electric cars, GM’s or Toyota’s mastery of cylinder blocks, pistons, and valve trains eventually won’t matter. Second, the batteries are still egregiously expensive, accounting for as much as one-third of an EV’s cost. The companies are betting that this will change, battery costs will fall, and they will be able to profit handsomely from all that growth as the world switches over to electrons. But claims of some imminent breakthrough that will slash battery expenses never seem to pan out—getting costs down likely will continue to be an incremental grind over years. For now, EVs remain 10–15% higher than a comparable gas-powered car in the U.S., and there aren’t many available for under $40,000. Those higher prices are perhaps the biggest hang-up for car shoppers who are still nervous to make the leap to a fully electric car. The other big drag on consumer acceptance of EVs is worries about charging. There aren’t enough public chargers—especially in the United States—and won’t be for a long time. The ones that do exist are often broken, can’t connect, or don’t sync with the app. A J.D. Power survey in 2023 found that one in five EV drivers who stopped at a charging station left without powering up at all. But what if both of those problems were solved? Just look at China. Beijing put in place a strategic plan two decades ago to leap ahead of the rest of the global car business. It made a massive bet that incumbent automakers like VW and GM wouldn’t fully embrace EVs, because their bottom lines were anchored to combustion-engine cars. That also was the same bet that Elon Musk was making around the same time. Now a slew of Chinese car brands enjoy huge advantages that allow them to churn out stylish, quality, affordable EVs. They are leveraging a lower-cost supply chain, access to raw materials for batteries, government funding, and cheap labor to offer EVs at prices around 30% below those of their large global rivals. And China’s network of the most powerful fast chargers mainly used along highways is roughly 20 times larger than that of the U.S. As a result, EVs and plug-in hybrids account for about half of all new-vehicle sales in China, the world’s largest car market. That compares with 20% in Europe and about 10% in the U.S. In China, domestic automakers have seized a ton of market share from the multinational players. Now the Chinese companies are expanding overseas, the spillover effect from a glut of car-making factory capacity. A decade ago, China shipped very few vehicles to other countries. In 2023, it surpassed Japan as the world’s largest vehicle exporter, extending that lead last year with nearly five million cars shipped. Political and business leaders in Europe and the U.S. feel pressure to check China’s onslaught. Last year, both the United States and European Union slapped tariffs on Chinese imports of electric vehicles and batteries. President Trump has vowed even more. This state of play leaves GM, Ford, and other global car titans with a choice. Does the EV slowdown in their home markets mean they can scale back on tens of billions they’ve already directed to new supply chains, EV designs, and factories? Will they stop working hard to get battery costs down? Will they stall, again, on developing an affordable EV for the masses? Doing those things could stem the steep losses on their EV operations and maybe lift their stock prices. But auto executives know what happened the last time American carmakers ignored shifting market dynamics. Japanese automakers in the 1970s and ’80s blitzed the U.S. market with smaller, fuel-efficient imports, and eventually set up shop with American factories. The Detroit automakers barely survived and have never regained that lost market share. Some executives see the China threat as even more dire, and aren’t taking comfort in the idea that tariffs will protect them long term. They say that eventually, if Chinese carmakers are the only ones offering good, affordable EVs, consumers will seek them out. That’s why auto executives aren’t ripping up their EV plans. Dozens of new battery powered models will hit U.S. showrooms this year, backed by multimillion-dollar ad campaigns. In Europe, it’s no longer a theoretical risk. In just a few years, Chinese car brands have grabbed 20% of the European market for electric cars. More are coming. On a cold morning in February 2024, news crews gathered at Germany’s port of Bremerhaven on the North Sea to watch as more than three thousand cars rolled off a massive blue-and-white cargo ship emblazoned with the letters BYD, the Tesla of China It was the maiden voyage for the BYD Explorer No. 1, the Chinese automaker’s first chartered vessel. Another seven car-carrying ships already were on order. BYD was now cranking out so many cars at its home factories that it had begun ramping up exports to Australia, Brazil, Israel, and other Europe, with plans to open a factory in Hungary by 2026. North America could be next. BYD has confirmed plans to build a factory in Mexico. In a 2024 interview with Yahoo News, BYD executive Stella Li said the automaker had no plans to enter the United States. But the read-through for U.S. car executives was plain: a BYD plant in Mexico would give the company a potential beachhead for U.S. expansion. If that thought wasn’t daunting enough for rival carmakers, the interviewer finished the conversation by asking Li what she thought of recent decisions by some global automakers to delay or cancel EV-related factories and investments because of the shaky demand picture. “If you are not investing for electric car, you are out. You will die,” she said. “You have no future.” Reprinted by permission of Harvard Business Review Press. Adapted from Inevitable: Inside the Messy, Unstoppable Transition to Electric Vehicles by Mike Colias. Copyright 2025 Mike Colias. All rights reserved. View the full article

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Set up a home recording studio to be your own boss. Maybe you’re a musician looking to record when you want. Or, you might be looking to start a podcast. It doesn’t matter. This blog will help you understand everything you need from the recording studio design to the right computer and other control room equipment. Read on to find out what you’ll need for a successful home studio setup. What is a Home Studio? A home studio makes quality music and podcasts. Build one right to match professional standards you can capitalize on the many benefits of podcasts or other recordings. You should include soundproofing. This space should also have a studio and recording equipment. Should I Record at Home or in a Studio? Deciding between a home or a traditional studio? Here are some ideas. The Professional Studio Pros The best studio equipment. And assistance if something goes wrong. There is usually backup equipment available. Rooms sare pecifically engineered for frequency response and great acoustics. Cons A professional studio costs. From a couple hundred to several thousand dollars every day. And that could be above your budget. Your time is limited. That means you’ll need to work on things like preproduction and have a plan. The Home Studio Pros You have all the time you need. Recording from home allows you to explore different instrumentation and arrangements. You can also make extra money by renting your home studio out. They offer convenience. The recording equipment is generally smaller and lighter, making it easier to set up. You can launch a home studio with just a computer and some acoustic treatment for the space. Cons There’s an initial expense to budget for, like DAW software and other pro tools like headphones. You need to invest time in a digital audio studio. For example, you will need to learn software and equipment skills. Remember, if any studio monitors break, you need to fix them. In the end, the home studio is the better choice. You’ll have a professional space at home. Why You Need a Home Studio Here are a few reasons: You get to be the boss. You can improve your craft and hone your skills. They are a good investment. A home recording studio can be rented via mail. Make a little money on the side or pay for the room. A home recording studio lets you control your hours and work schedule. Set your objectives and goals. A project studio is a home-based business. You’re the CEO. You control the acoustic treatment, too. Please read on to find out about the equipment for the place. What Studio Equipment Do I Need to Set up a Home Recording Studio or Podcast Studio? Home studios need different pieces of equipment. All the gear should be industry standard for music or podcasts. Below is a list of the recording equipment and other things you need. Computer Don’t cut any corners. The software uses a lot of resources. It doesn’t matter in the end whether you choose a computer that uses MacOS or Windows. Most of the software, like DAWS, is compatible with either. When it comes to technology for storage devices, choose SSDs over classic hard drives. They perform better. The size of the storage device is important. For consistent good sound quality, a minimum of one terabyte is recommended. However, starting with 512 GB of space is also acceptable. Studio Monitors There are several good features for studio monitors for a home studio. Bigger rooms need 8-inch monitors minimum. A small room can get by with 3 to 5-inch units. Get a fan, too. A medium-sized space should have 5 to eight-inch monitors. Power is another consideration. This is what drives the woofer and tweeter and generates sound quality. The monitor drivers need enough power for sharp and/or punchy sound. For smaller rooms, look for power requirements of 20 Watts. Medium rooms take a 40-watt monitor. A bigger space can go up to 80 Watts or higher. Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) A digital audio workstation (DAW) is digital software that allows you to compose, edit, and record audio tracks. Here are a few features that are standard for these pieces of equipment. A good DAW has audio arrangement and recording features. One worth the money is a plug-and-play experience. Look for Audio Plugins. These control the virtual instruments, reverberation, equalization, and delay. MIDI Controllers. These look after messages for audio signals like velocity and volume. You adjust the treatment. Other features should look after producing, mixing, tracking, and composing. An industry leader in Logic Pro X. This tool provides digital instruments and audio effects mimicking real musicians. Look for sample libraries, too. Here are some of the other pieces you’ll need. Preamps These work with microphone levels. A good audio interface comes with a preamp built in. They boost a microphone level to a line level. You can get standalone versions or ones built into the audio interface. Studio Headphones A home studio should have two different headphones. Closed-back headphones are used for recording. Open-back headphones are used for mixing. For closed-back headphones, seek out products with maximum sound insulation properties. On the other hand, open-back headphones deliver good sound quality with isolation. Each serves different studio purposes. Studio Microphones You’ll also need good microphones. These are important for podcasts. The following list supplies some of the best choices. Dynamic Microphones These are also known as moving coil microphones. They are rugged, affordable, and don’t require a power source like a battery. A disadvantage is they are less accurate than a condenser microphone. Here’s a list to sort through. Condenser Mic Condenser microphones are another option. Many experts favor audio recording in a home studio because they deliver excellent sound quality for both music and vocals. These also have outstanding low-frequency responses. USB These microphones are a user-friendly option for home studio use. The best models blend simplicity with high-quality recording capabilities. Some even come with additional software, but many of these microphones are simply plug-and-play. Here’s a list of products that supply great sound for podcasting. XLR This type of microphone comes with a preamp. The audio quality is better than other types of microphone. It’s great for recording musical instruments. The XLR is the standard that is used in many professional recording studios. It’s adaptable and customizable. Microphone Accessories Following are the microphone accessories you’ll need. Mic Cables First off, you’ll need to know the difference between digital and analog cables. Analog cables transmit data through electricity. Digital cables use binary code. The electrical signal from analog cables gets passed through instruments or other gear to speakers and monitors. Cones vibrate and push air to your ears. Digital signals are created by computers which is a machine language. A digital signal can be changed in many different ways. Learn more about those choices here. Mic Stands These are excellent investments for your home studio. Generally, you can spend as little as $10 or more than $500. Here are a few of the mic stand options you have. Tripod stands are good for general use. Overhead stands are the most expensive. Tripod boom stands offer a bigger reach. Desktop stands work for podcasting. Low-profile and round base stands are two of the other mic stand options. Midi Keyboard These are important for production and just playing in your home. Here are a few boxes to check to get a good one. Software integration needs to be at the top of the list. You’ll need to be able to have control over your DAW or virtual instruments. Having a reliable driver is essential. If it causes your computer or software to crash, you won’t be able to record effectively. Take some time to research the manufacturer. One of the most important features is the keys. Look for high-quality synth-action products. Don’t forget to look for pitch and modulation controls, too. Pop Shield These enhancements improve the quality of the tracks you record by eliminating plosives, speech sounds, and mechanical popping noises. While metal screens tend to be more expensive, they offer significant benefits. Samples Audio samples are necessary for your home studio. They can include everything from sharp piano loops to a snare hit. Audio Interface The audio interface can do a number of things, like recording music and streaming podcasts. It connects your gear to the DAW through your computer. Select your audio interface based on connections, budget, and physical design. Here’s a list of some of the best. Editing Software Podcast editing software should include features for music too. Look for : A number of different audio effects and music that’s royalty-free for your podcast. A free trial is a nice software option for a live-streaming production. The ability to remove any background noise is good. Industry leaders like TwistedWave offer editing software for a Mac, iPhone/iPad or online. You can launch it from a browser. Monitor Speakers These are critical for your home setup. Here are a few ideas on choosing good monitor speakers. There are two different types. Near-Field Monitor Speakers These use a dome-shaped tweeter and a cone woofer. They are small with a wide range and work best 3 to 4 feet apart. Some can lack a deep base. But you can make up with a good sub woofer. Active Monitors These have a power amplifier built in. That makes them the best choice for a home studio setup. Most of these are bi-amplified. One amp is for the tweeter, and one is for the woofer. That means you’ll get more sound power. Acoustic Treatments Don’t underestimate your room’s acoustics. It’s important to make a distinction with the pro tools you’ll need. Soundproofing is designed to minimize the noise that travels in a room. It uses dense building materials. Acoustic treatments do something completely different. They are designed to control the sound in a room and make it better. For good acoustic treatments, look at three items. Diffusers work to scatter frequencies. Bass Traps absorb sound with low frequencies. Acoustic Panels absorb high and middle frequencies. Primacoustic is an industry leader. Ear Training Software For good recordings, your ears need to develop basic skills. Sound engineers recognize bands of frequencies. Musicians can pick out chords, intervals, and notes. This software will allow you to make mixing decisions that make your final product better. Pop Filters A pop filter is a straightforward tool. Simply put, it’s the gear that goes between the microphone and the singer/speaker. A pop filter contains a mesh screen that slows air to reduce plosives. These are speech sounds that get recorded otherwise. There are generally two options. Cheap screens and more expensive metal ones. Instruments Consider looking into virtual instruments. A single software tool provides hundreds of instrument sounds. Just starting out? Look for a single keyboard program and a good drum option. Desk Work Station When you’re looking for a desk workstation to bring everything together, there are a few features to check off. Like the following: Find one with a smaller upper shelf to house monitors. Rollers, so you can move it around. A tray that slides out for storing a keyboard and mouse. Remember, as your home studio expands, you’ll need more rack space. Basic Office Equipment Here’s a quick refresher checklist of the basic equipment you’ll need. The Computer. Go with at least 8 GB RAM to start. Studio Monitors. Remember that active speakers produce a flat frequency response. And that’s what you want. DAW Software. You can get free versions. But you’ll get limited functionality. Look for a company offering subscriptions. Audio Interface. Basically, this is an analog-to-digital sound converter, so your DAW can do its job. Headphones: There are two types available: closed-back headphones, which are ideal for recording, and open-back headphones, which are better suited for mixing. Microphones: The condenser mic can be used for both instruments and vocals. XLR Cables: If you’re starting out, you won’t have a lot of money. Get three. One for your microphone and two for the monitors. Pop Filters: These ‘mesh’ screens filter out unwanted vocal noises. Here’s a final thought. Try to avoid setting up in a small room. The acoustics are never very good. Setting Up a Home Recording Studio Are you a small business owner ready to set up a recording space? YouTube is a great platform to use. Using this platform means making the most of location, lighting, and sound. Get your setup right, and the possibilities are endless. Here are a few things about the style and elements of the set to create a mood. Can You Have a Recording Studio at Home? The answer is yes if you follow all the advice and suggestions in this article. You’ll need the right software, space, and gear. How Much Does a Home Studio Cost? A budget is important. And for that you’ll need to know the cost involved. The quick answer is somewhere between $500 and $20,000 dollars. Still, experts say it depends on what you’re looking to accomplish. A good set of speakers and a computer can get a lot done with little money. If you want something more professional with several mics and preamps, you could be looking at the $5000 to $50,000 range. How To Set Up a Home Recording Studio Setting up a recording space is a process. You can start with an idea, some money, and a dedicated place. Then, you should follow the following steps. Choose the Perfect Room for Your Recording Space An area in your recording space is the first decision. Here are a few ideas to point you in the right direction. Avoid small rooms. Bigger rooms allow for an expanding collection of instruments and gear. They also sound and show better. Stay away from spaces with outside noise like plumbing, neighbors, and cars. Choose concrete and tile over carpet. Carpets are bad for low frequencies. Stay away from bedrooms because the acoustics are poor. Make Sure the Room is Soundproofed You need to soundproof your space. It’s a DIY project you can finish in three steps. Sound escapes in gaps in window frames and doors. Add door sweeps and seal leaks with acoustical sealant. Hang thick curtains around windows. Don’t forget to line the heating and cooling ducts. You can increase the mass of the walls and ceiling with special soundproof wall panels. Adding a second layer of drywall is another option. Suppose you can mount electrical switches on the wall. This takes away a sound entry point. Have the Perfect Recording Studio Design Having the right design makes a big difference. Take everything out of the room you’ve picked. That includes anything that can vibrate. Next, you should add acoustic treatment. It’s not just for show. The standard setup has all the gear surrounding you in a circle. It’s good for access. The other option is a dual setup. There’s a station for the engineer and another section for the musician. The hybrid setup looks most like the dual option. Top Tips for the Perfect Home Recording Studio Having trouble getting started? Here are five tips that will point you in the right direction for starting out. Starting with the basics is a good idea. Look for gear that’s both affordable and compact. Get reviews sent to your inbox via mail. If you plan on making music or podcasts on the go, you’ll need a laptop. If your home recording space is going to be stationary, a desktop PC will do. Choosing the right DAW software is important. If you own a Mac computer, you can start with the basics and upgrade to Logic Pro X. When you’re looking at an audio interface, think about inputs. The minimum 2 out/2 in the units works best. If you plan on doing a lot of live streams, a USB microphone is the right choice. Home Podcast Studio Setup Setting up a podcast studio is a little different. Here are a few things that make this different from recording music. Planning is the first step. You need to write a script that goes along with your original idea. You might even need to invite some people in as guests. Some people might want to pick a cohost. It’s easier to get started with one of these. You need to choose a name. Choose one that will let you expand your topics. For example, “Outdoor Adventures” could be about hiking. But you can expand it. You need to have a format, too. A simple one includes a teaser and some intro music and then an ad spot and an interview. Don’t forget to leave yourself enough time to edit the episode. That way, it will sound its best. How Does a Podcast Studio Work? Generally, podcasting is a free service. Users get to take the audio files that are usually MP3s. They listen to them on their smartphones or other devices. Podcasting is free from any government regulation presently. You don’t need to buy any kind of license like a radio station would. You don’t need to conform to any FCC regulations, either. How Much Does a Home Podcast Studio Cost? Much of this will depend on whether you’re looking to start a podcast as a hobby or a business. Either way, you’re going to need equipment, software, cover art as well as music and FX. For the business podcast you can spend on average $950 to get started and then $330 a month for things like podcast hosting. For the hobby podcast, the startup fee is around $330, with $15 per month. How to Set Up a Home Podcast Studio Setting up a DIY podcast area is quite straightforward. However, there are several steps you can take to ensure a successful launch. The tips below will guide you in getting started. Choose the Right Room for Your Home Podcast Studio Choosing the right space for your podcast is the first step. Here’s the thing. Most people won’t have a big budget to start out. It’s a good idea to choose a space that has surfaces like rugs and carpeting. Think about access. Lots of podcasters start recording in their closets. Stay away from rooms that have hard flooring, like your kitchen and other hard surfaces. Soundproof or Soundtreat Your Room Soundproofing differs from sound treatment. Soundproofing focuses on reducing external noise in your home studio. To achieve this, you can utilize specially designed drywall panels and gap fillers. Sound treating is about making the acoustics in the room better. Use tools like bass traps here which are tools that dampen low frequencies. These are a big part of success. Choose Your Room Layout Here are some more ideas for choosing your room layout. Along with the tips we’ve already mentioned, watch out for low ceilings and parallel walls using drywall. Start Recording! If you’ve gone through all these tips, you’re ready to start recording. You might be making music or putting together a podcast. With either thing, the following tips come in handy. Home Podcast Studio: Top Tips Pick an existing space, like a closet, that you can access. Design a great podcast cover. That’s part of it. Try Adobe Photoshop. Get recording software that will let you edit. Look for review sites and have updates sent to your inbox. Think about a hosting platform like Podcast.co Is a home studio worth it? You can put together one of these on a budget. You can make money by outsourcing services like mixing, producing, and tracking. It’s an enriching experience for people who love technology and music or podcasts. They are something creative people thrive on. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Set Up a Home Studio" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Set up a home recording studio to be your own boss. Maybe you’re a musician looking to record when you want. Or, you might be looking to start a podcast. It doesn’t matter. This blog will help you understand everything you need from the recording studio design to the right computer and other control room equipment. Read on to find out what you’ll need for a successful home studio setup. What is a Home Studio? A home studio makes quality music and podcasts. Build one right to match professional standards you can capitalize on the many benefits of podcasts or other recordings. You should include soundproofing. This space should also have a studio and recording equipment. Should I Record at Home or in a Studio? Deciding between a home or a traditional studio? Here are some ideas. The Professional Studio Pros The best studio equipment. And assistance if something goes wrong. There is usually backup equipment available. Rooms sare pecifically engineered for frequency response and great acoustics. Cons A professional studio costs. From a couple hundred to several thousand dollars every day. And that could be above your budget. Your time is limited. That means you’ll need to work on things like preproduction and have a plan. The Home Studio Pros You have all the time you need. Recording from home allows you to explore different instrumentation and arrangements. You can also make extra money by renting your home studio out. They offer convenience. The recording equipment is generally smaller and lighter, making it easier to set up. You can launch a home studio with just a computer and some acoustic treatment for the space. Cons There’s an initial expense to budget for, like DAW software and other pro tools like headphones. You need to invest time in a digital audio studio. For example, you will need to learn software and equipment skills. Remember, if any studio monitors break, you need to fix them. In the end, the home studio is the better choice. You’ll have a professional space at home. Why You Need a Home Studio Here are a few reasons: You get to be the boss. You can improve your craft and hone your skills. They are a good investment. A home recording studio can be rented via mail. Make a little money on the side or pay for the room. A home recording studio lets you control your hours and work schedule. Set your objectives and goals. A project studio is a home-based business. You’re the CEO. You control the acoustic treatment, too. Please read on to find out about the equipment for the place. What Studio Equipment Do I Need to Set up a Home Recording Studio or Podcast Studio? Home studios need different pieces of equipment. All the gear should be industry standard for music or podcasts. Below is a list of the recording equipment and other things you need. Computer Don’t cut any corners. The software uses a lot of resources. It doesn’t matter in the end whether you choose a computer that uses MacOS or Windows. Most of the software, like DAWS, is compatible with either. When it comes to technology for storage devices, choose SSDs over classic hard drives. They perform better. The size of the storage device is important. For consistent good sound quality, a minimum of one terabyte is recommended. However, starting with 512 GB of space is also acceptable. Studio Monitors There are several good features for studio monitors for a home studio. Bigger rooms need 8-inch monitors minimum. A small room can get by with 3 to 5-inch units. Get a fan, too. A medium-sized space should have 5 to eight-inch monitors. Power is another consideration. This is what drives the woofer and tweeter and generates sound quality. The monitor drivers need enough power for sharp and/or punchy sound. For smaller rooms, look for power requirements of 20 Watts. Medium rooms take a 40-watt monitor. A bigger space can go up to 80 Watts or higher. Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) A digital audio workstation (DAW) is digital software that allows you to compose, edit, and record audio tracks. Here are a few features that are standard for these pieces of equipment. A good DAW has audio arrangement and recording features. One worth the money is a plug-and-play experience. Look for Audio Plugins. These control the virtual instruments, reverberation, equalization, and delay. MIDI Controllers. These look after messages for audio signals like velocity and volume. You adjust the treatment. Other features should look after producing, mixing, tracking, and composing. An industry leader in Logic Pro X. This tool provides digital instruments and audio effects mimicking real musicians. Look for sample libraries, too. Here are some of the other pieces you’ll need. Preamps These work with microphone levels. A good audio interface comes with a preamp built in. They boost a microphone level to a line level. You can get standalone versions or ones built into the audio interface. Studio Headphones A home studio should have two different headphones. Closed-back headphones are used for recording. Open-back headphones are used for mixing. For closed-back headphones, seek out products with maximum sound insulation properties. On the other hand, open-back headphones deliver good sound quality with isolation. Each serves different studio purposes. Studio Microphones You’ll also need good microphones. These are important for podcasts. The following list supplies some of the best choices. Dynamic Microphones These are also known as moving coil microphones. They are rugged, affordable, and don’t require a power source like a battery. A disadvantage is they are less accurate than a condenser microphone. Here’s a list to sort through. Condenser Mic Condenser microphones are another option. Many experts favor audio recording in a home studio because they deliver excellent sound quality for both music and vocals. These also have outstanding low-frequency responses. USB These microphones are a user-friendly option for home studio use. The best models blend simplicity with high-quality recording capabilities. Some even come with additional software, but many of these microphones are simply plug-and-play. Here’s a list of products that supply great sound for podcasting. XLR This type of microphone comes with a preamp. The audio quality is better than other types of microphone. It’s great for recording musical instruments. The XLR is the standard that is used in many professional recording studios. It’s adaptable and customizable. Microphone Accessories Following are the microphone accessories you’ll need. Mic Cables First off, you’ll need to know the difference between digital and analog cables. Analog cables transmit data through electricity. Digital cables use binary code. The electrical signal from analog cables gets passed through instruments or other gear to speakers and monitors. Cones vibrate and push air to your ears. Digital signals are created by computers which is a machine language. A digital signal can be changed in many different ways. Learn more about those choices here. Mic Stands These are excellent investments for your home studio. Generally, you can spend as little as $10 or more than $500. Here are a few of the mic stand options you have. Tripod stands are good for general use. Overhead stands are the most expensive. Tripod boom stands offer a bigger reach. Desktop stands work for podcasting. Low-profile and round base stands are two of the other mic stand options. Midi Keyboard These are important for production and just playing in your home. Here are a few boxes to check to get a good one. Software integration needs to be at the top of the list. You’ll need to be able to have control over your DAW or virtual instruments. Having a reliable driver is essential. If it causes your computer or software to crash, you won’t be able to record effectively. Take some time to research the manufacturer. One of the most important features is the keys. Look for high-quality synth-action products. Don’t forget to look for pitch and modulation controls, too. Pop Shield These enhancements improve the quality of the tracks you record by eliminating plosives, speech sounds, and mechanical popping noises. While metal screens tend to be more expensive, they offer significant benefits. Samples Audio samples are necessary for your home studio. They can include everything from sharp piano loops to a snare hit. Audio Interface The audio interface can do a number of things, like recording music and streaming podcasts. It connects your gear to the DAW through your computer. Select your audio interface based on connections, budget, and physical design. Here’s a list of some of the best. Editing Software Podcast editing software should include features for music too. Look for : A number of different audio effects and music that’s royalty-free for your podcast. A free trial is a nice software option for a live-streaming production. The ability to remove any background noise is good. Industry leaders like TwistedWave offer editing software for a Mac, iPhone/iPad or online. You can launch it from a browser. Monitor Speakers These are critical for your home setup. Here are a few ideas on choosing good monitor speakers. There are two different types. Near-Field Monitor Speakers These use a dome-shaped tweeter and a cone woofer. They are small with a wide range and work best 3 to 4 feet apart. Some can lack a deep base. But you can make up with a good sub woofer. Active Monitors These have a power amplifier built in. That makes them the best choice for a home studio setup. Most of these are bi-amplified. One amp is for the tweeter, and one is for the woofer. That means you’ll get more sound power. Acoustic Treatments Don’t underestimate your room’s acoustics. It’s important to make a distinction with the pro tools you’ll need. Soundproofing is designed to minimize the noise that travels in a room. It uses dense building materials. Acoustic treatments do something completely different. They are designed to control the sound in a room and make it better. For good acoustic treatments, look at three items. Diffusers work to scatter frequencies. Bass Traps absorb sound with low frequencies. Acoustic Panels absorb high and middle frequencies. Primacoustic is an industry leader. Ear Training Software For good recordings, your ears need to develop basic skills. Sound engineers recognize bands of frequencies. Musicians can pick out chords, intervals, and notes. This software will allow you to make mixing decisions that make your final product better. Pop Filters A pop filter is a straightforward tool. Simply put, it’s the gear that goes between the microphone and the singer/speaker. A pop filter contains a mesh screen that slows air to reduce plosives. These are speech sounds that get recorded otherwise. There are generally two options. Cheap screens and more expensive metal ones. Instruments Consider looking into virtual instruments. A single software tool provides hundreds of instrument sounds. Just starting out? Look for a single keyboard program and a good drum option. Desk Work Station When you’re looking for a desk workstation to bring everything together, there are a few features to check off. Like the following: Find one with a smaller upper shelf to house monitors. Rollers, so you can move it around. A tray that slides out for storing a keyboard and mouse. Remember, as your home studio expands, you’ll need more rack space. Basic Office Equipment Here’s a quick refresher checklist of the basic equipment you’ll need. The Computer. Go with at least 8 GB RAM to start. Studio Monitors. Remember that active speakers produce a flat frequency response. And that’s what you want. DAW Software. You can get free versions. But you’ll get limited functionality. Look for a company offering subscriptions. Audio Interface. Basically, this is an analog-to-digital sound converter, so your DAW can do its job. Headphones: There are two types available: closed-back headphones, which are ideal for recording, and open-back headphones, which are better suited for mixing. Microphones: The condenser mic can be used for both instruments and vocals. XLR Cables: If you’re starting out, you won’t have a lot of money. Get three. One for your microphone and two for the monitors. Pop Filters: These ‘mesh’ screens filter out unwanted vocal noises. Here’s a final thought. Try to avoid setting up in a small room. The acoustics are never very good. Setting Up a Home Recording Studio Are you a small business owner ready to set up a recording space? YouTube is a great platform to use. Using this platform means making the most of location, lighting, and sound. Get your setup right, and the possibilities are endless. Here are a few things about the style and elements of the set to create a mood. Can You Have a Recording Studio at Home? The answer is yes if you follow all the advice and suggestions in this article. You’ll need the right software, space, and gear. How Much Does a Home Studio Cost? A budget is important. And for that you’ll need to know the cost involved. The quick answer is somewhere between $500 and $20,000 dollars. Still, experts say it depends on what you’re looking to accomplish. A good set of speakers and a computer can get a lot done with little money. If you want something more professional with several mics and preamps, you could be looking at the $5000 to $50,000 range. How To Set Up a Home Recording Studio Setting up a recording space is a process. You can start with an idea, some money, and a dedicated place. Then, you should follow the following steps. Choose the Perfect Room for Your Recording Space An area in your recording space is the first decision. Here are a few ideas to point you in the right direction. Avoid small rooms. Bigger rooms allow for an expanding collection of instruments and gear. They also sound and show better. Stay away from spaces with outside noise like plumbing, neighbors, and cars. Choose concrete and tile over carpet. Carpets are bad for low frequencies. Stay away from bedrooms because the acoustics are poor. Make Sure the Room is Soundproofed You need to soundproof your space. It’s a DIY project you can finish in three steps. Sound escapes in gaps in window frames and doors. Add door sweeps and seal leaks with acoustical sealant. Hang thick curtains around windows. Don’t forget to line the heating and cooling ducts. You can increase the mass of the walls and ceiling with special soundproof wall panels. Adding a second layer of drywall is another option. Suppose you can mount electrical switches on the wall. This takes away a sound entry point. Have the Perfect Recording Studio Design Having the right design makes a big difference. Take everything out of the room you’ve picked. That includes anything that can vibrate. Next, you should add acoustic treatment. It’s not just for show. The standard setup has all the gear surrounding you in a circle. It’s good for access. The other option is a dual setup. There’s a station for the engineer and another section for the musician. The hybrid setup looks most like the dual option. Top Tips for the Perfect Home Recording Studio Having trouble getting started? Here are five tips that will point you in the right direction for starting out. Starting with the basics is a good idea. Look for gear that’s both affordable and compact. Get reviews sent to your inbox via mail. If you plan on making music or podcasts on the go, you’ll need a laptop. If your home recording space is going to be stationary, a desktop PC will do. Choosing the right DAW software is important. If you own a Mac computer, you can start with the basics and upgrade to Logic Pro X. When you’re looking at an audio interface, think about inputs. The minimum 2 out/2 in the units works best. If you plan on doing a lot of live streams, a USB microphone is the right choice. Home Podcast Studio Setup Setting up a podcast studio is a little different. Here are a few things that make this different from recording music. Planning is the first step. You need to write a script that goes along with your original idea. You might even need to invite some people in as guests. Some people might want to pick a cohost. It’s easier to get started with one of these. You need to choose a name. Choose one that will let you expand your topics. For example, “Outdoor Adventures” could be about hiking. But you can expand it. You need to have a format, too. A simple one includes a teaser and some intro music and then an ad spot and an interview. Don’t forget to leave yourself enough time to edit the episode. That way, it will sound its best. How Does a Podcast Studio Work? Generally, podcasting is a free service. Users get to take the audio files that are usually MP3s. They listen to them on their smartphones or other devices. Podcasting is free from any government regulation presently. You don’t need to buy any kind of license like a radio station would. You don’t need to conform to any FCC regulations, either. How Much Does a Home Podcast Studio Cost? Much of this will depend on whether you’re looking to start a podcast as a hobby or a business. Either way, you’re going to need equipment, software, cover art as well as music and FX. For the business podcast you can spend on average $950 to get started and then $330 a month for things like podcast hosting. For the hobby podcast, the startup fee is around $330, with $15 per month. How to Set Up a Home Podcast Studio Setting up a DIY podcast area is quite straightforward. However, there are several steps you can take to ensure a successful launch. The tips below will guide you in getting started. Choose the Right Room for Your Home Podcast Studio Choosing the right space for your podcast is the first step. Here’s the thing. Most people won’t have a big budget to start out. It’s a good idea to choose a space that has surfaces like rugs and carpeting. Think about access. Lots of podcasters start recording in their closets. Stay away from rooms that have hard flooring, like your kitchen and other hard surfaces. Soundproof or Soundtreat Your Room Soundproofing differs from sound treatment. Soundproofing focuses on reducing external noise in your home studio. To achieve this, you can utilize specially designed drywall panels and gap fillers. Sound treating is about making the acoustics in the room better. Use tools like bass traps here which are tools that dampen low frequencies. These are a big part of success. Choose Your Room Layout Here are some more ideas for choosing your room layout. Along with the tips we’ve already mentioned, watch out for low ceilings and parallel walls using drywall. Start Recording! If you’ve gone through all these tips, you’re ready to start recording. You might be making music or putting together a podcast. With either thing, the following tips come in handy. Home Podcast Studio: Top Tips Pick an existing space, like a closet, that you can access. Design a great podcast cover. That’s part of it. Try Adobe Photoshop. Get recording software that will let you edit. Look for review sites and have updates sent to your inbox. Think about a hosting platform like Podcast.co Is a home studio worth it? You can put together one of these on a budget. You can make money by outsourcing services like mixing, producing, and tracking. It’s an enriching experience for people who love technology and music or podcasts. They are something creative people thrive on. Image: Depositphotos This article, "How to Set Up a Home Studio" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

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Professional services firms work with tight profit margins and every optimization they can apply to their operations has a direct impact on these margins. That’s why having a professional services automation software (PSA) is an essential part of setting up your firm’s tech stack. These platforms can make the difference between smooth client onboarding and long, unproductive back and forths. They can unlock new collaboration opportunities between teams, streamline delivery, and a lot more. Here’s a breakdown of this essential software category. Why do professional services firms need automation software? While every organization can benefit from the right automation software, professional services firms see a direct link between automation and their bottom line. Their profitability is tied to how efficiently they can move from acquiring a new customer to delivering their service. Any hiccups along the way reduce their profitability, meaning there’s an enhanced focus on closing gaps between tools, streamlining project management, and accelerating project delivery. That’s why PSA software is so essential. Every bit of manual work eliminated and every piece of data automatically carried through a workflow leads to cost savings and more profits down the line. Professional services automation software vs. software integration Software integration tools are commonly used by organizations to close the gaps between tools and keep data flowing freely between them. This is a similar goal to professional services automation software, and many integration platforms can serve a dual role as PSA software. On the other hand, dedicated PSA software might work similarly to a project management tool, billing solution, and resource management platform all rolled up into one. The 4 best professional services automation platforms There’s a lot of variety in professional services automation software, from platforms that close the gap between other tools and those that centralize all your operations. Here are some examples of the best PSA solutions from both of these categories. Unito Unito’s 2-way sync allows professional services teams to do more than just automate their tools. Unito is a 2-way sync tool with some of the deepest integrations for popular tools in professional services, from project management tools like Asana to customer relationship management platforms like Salesforce. These integrations build two-way relationships between the work items in these tools, meaning data is automatically pushed from tool to tool as you work. No matter which platform your teams are working in, they’ll always have the latest data on hand. This accelerates everything from onboarding new customers to delivering your services, protecting your profit margin and preventing costly errors. Most PSA software uses one-way automation to integrate tools, which can be artificially limiting. Actually building beginning-to-end integrations, which carry essential data through every stage of your workflow, is increasingly complicated the more tools you have and requires frequent troubleshooting. With a 2-way sync supported by Unito, you can achieve the same thing with less maintenance, a quicker deployment time, and fewer technical resources. Unito integrations are already used widely for data migrations, consulting, and sales operations. Using Salesforce in your firm? See what Unito can do with our free 15 Ways to Integrate Salesforce in Real-Time ebook. Get the ebook Zapier Zapier uses simple one-way integrations to automate actions between tools. Zapier is one of the most popular automation platforms on the market for just about any use case, from professional services to revenue ops and project management. Its automations have one primary advantage setting them apart from other PSA software: they’re incredibly easy to set up. Even if you don’t have internal IT resources, you can easily get your first Zapier automation set up in just a few hours. The main drawback of using a tool like Zapier is that it isn’t suited to setting up workflow-wide automation without some significant time and maintenance investment. Its automations only support basic actions, so actually relying on it to optimize your entire delivery process can lead to some challenges. Workday Workday is an example of PSA software specifically built for professional firms, which makes it more suited for managing your entire workflow. Professional services firms have to manage all sorts of workflows, from staffing to project management and invoicing. While using specialized tools for each of these workflows has its advantages, it can lead to challenges when trying to automate your work. After all, not all integration solutions offer options for all the tools you use. That’s where platforms like Workday come into play. Workday automates every aspect of delivering your services in a single platform, so you don’t need any integrations. The automation part of professional services automation comes from your day-to-day tasks being automated, rather than the flow of data between tools being automated. This approach can be more resilient — your workflow doesn’t fall apart if one tool stops working — but it can be limiting. An all-in-one platform isn’t always best suited for individual tasks, and if you had more specialized tools, you’ll lose out on the advantages of having a single platform for all your needs. Projectworks Projectworks allows professional services firms to handle everything from resource allocation to expense management in one place. What’s better than PSA software that centralizes all your operations? One that integrates natively with other tools essential to delivering your service. Projectworks allows you to reduce your firm’s overhead, increase your margins, and get meaningful data from every task and workflow. You can easily handle every aspect of your work But if some other tools are absolutely essential to your services, Projectworks will likely integrate seamlessly with them. Examples of these integrations include: Jira HubSpot Quickbooks Salesforce Xero Want to see what Unito can do for your professional services firm? Try Unito for 14 days, absolutely free. Try it free View the full article

eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) has finalized its acquisition of Caramel, an online automotive transaction platform, strengthening its position in the digital vehicle marketplace. The deal, originally announced in January, aims to streamline vehicle sales by integrating Caramel’s end-to-end transaction technology into eBay Motors. Caramel’s platform offers a secure and fully digital vehicle transaction experience, handling ownership transfers, financing, transportation, and paperwork. By incorporating this technology, eBay seeks to simplify vehicle transactions for buyers and sellers while maintaining transparency and security. “At eBay, we know that buying a car is a significant decision, and trust is at the heart of that experience,” said Chris Prill, General Manager, eBay Motors. “By integrating Caramel’s seamless platform, we are underscoring eBay’s commitment to a more secure and transparent vehicle marketplace, which in turn makes it easier than ever for buyers and sellers to transact with confidence.” Caramel’s services will remain available not only through eBay but also via its own platform, contracted independent dealers, and marketplace and auction partners. This approach ensures continued accessibility for users across various automotive sales channels. “Partnering with eBay is a natural fit for Caramel, as they share our goals of fostering connections, building vibrant communities, and making it easier than ever for people to buy and sell the things they love,” said Edward Brojerdi and Craig Nehamen, co-CEOs and co-founders of Caramel. “I’m excited about the opportunity for our team and technology to elevate the car buying journey for even more vehicle enthusiasts in the United States.” This article, "eBay Completes Acquisition of Caramel, Expanding Digital Vehicle Transactions" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article