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Google is rolling out new Google Maps features that will show searchers more information about nearby businesses and events. Plus, Google is allowing reviewers to use nicknames instead of their real names when leaving a review. Know before you go. Google is rolling out the “know before you go” feature within Google Maps. This is a feature we saw being tested before, both in Search and in Maps, but now it is officially rolling out in Google Maps. When you search for places in Google Maps, Google will show you a new section with “know before you go” tips. Google will show you information like parking tips, secret menu items, the best way to book a reservation, and details about the entrance. Google gets this information through user reviews and other information it finds online, like the best way to book a reservation, what the secret menu items are, parking tips and more. Google calls these “insider tips” and they are rolling out now in the U.S. on Android and iOS. Here is what it looks like: Trending nearby in Explore tab. Google added to the explore tab trending and popular restaurants, activities and sights near you. You can swipe up on the explore tab, while on the maps interface, to see these results. Google said these trends are sourced from Viator, Lonely Planet, and OpenTable, in addition to local influencers like Sisterssnacking. This is rolling out this month globally on Android and iOS. Here is what it looks like: Nicknames for reviewers. Google is also letting reviewers use nicknames, instead of their real names. Google wrote, “If you prefer not to use your real name, now you can choose a nickname and profile.” Won’t this lead to more spammy reviewers? Google says no. Google linked to this blog post that talks about its review spam capabilities. Google said it will “monitor for suspicious and fake reviews 24/7, since no matter what nickname you use publicly, reviews are still associated with your Google Account behind the scenes. This feature is rolling out this month globally on Android, iOS and desktop. Here is how it works: View the full article

You’ve deployed AI agents to handle first-line customer inquiries, and they’re good at what they do—when they have the information they need. But you keep seeing them escalate tickets unnecessarily, give generic responses to known customers, or miss obvious context that would let them resolve issues immediately. The frustrating part? That context exists. It’s just trapped in a different system. Your billing history lives in Stripe. Account tier and contract details sit in Salesforce. Previous support interactions are in Zendesk. Project status updates are in Jira. Your AI agent only sees what’s in front of it: typically the current support ticket and whatever standard fields your integration manages to sync. Everything else might as well not exist. The promise of AI in customer service depends on the complete context. An agent who knows the customer upgraded last week, opened three similar tickets last month, and has an active project in development can make smart decisions. An agent working from a ticket description alone is just pattern-matching text. Why AI agents fail when customer context lives in silos AI agents excel at synthesis and pattern recognition. They can analyze customer intent, match problems to solutions, and generate helpful responses faster than any human team. What they can’t do is access information that isn’t available to them. When your AI agent sees a ticket about a billing discrepancy, it needs to know more than the ticket description. It needs the customer’s payment history, subscription tier, recent upgrades, and whether they’ve reported billing issues before. If that information lives across Stripe, Salesforce, and Zendesk without being unified, your agent is working blind. The result isn’t an obvious failure. It’s a subtle degradation. Your agent escalates tickets it could handle because it lacks confidence without full context. It provides accurate but generic answers when it could deliver personalized guidance based on account history. It asks customers to repeat information they’ve already provided because that context didn’t follow them across systems. This isn’t an AI capability problem. Your agent has the reasoning ability to make good decisions. It’s an information architecture problem. AI effectiveness depends on complete customer context being available wherever the AI makes decisions. When that context is fragmented across disconnected tools, even sophisticated AI makes poor calls because it’s literally missing the information it needs. The gap between AI capability and AI effectiveness is typically a data unification problem, not a model training problem. What breaks when integrations don’t unify context Most organizations think they’ve solved the integration problem because their tools are technically connected. Zendesk tickets create Jira issues. Salesforce records update when support tickets close. On the surface, it looks like data is flowing. Then you check what actually synced. The standard fields made it through: ticket ID, status, priority, basic description. Everything else? The custom field tracking account tier didn’t sync because it’s not part of the standard schema. The internal notes about previous escalations are missing because they’re in a rich text field your integration doesn’t support. The link to the customer’s active project in Jira exists in one system but not the other because bidirectional sync wasn’t set up. Missing custom fields leave AI agents blind to account specifics Your organization customized Salesforce to track customer health scores, contract renewal dates, and implementation status. These fields drive how your customer success team prioritizes accounts. Your AI agent needs the same information to make smart routing decisions. A ticket from a customer in implementation should get handled differently than one from an enterprise customer approaching renewal. But standard integrations sync standard fields. Unless your integration platform explicitly supports custom field mapping, those fields never make it to your support system. Your AI agent sees “Enterprise” as the account type but has no visibility into whether they’re onboarding or renewing, satisfied or at risk. The same thing happens with ticket metadata. You’ve built custom fields in Zendesk to track escalation history, product module affected, and customer sentiment. When tickets flow to Jira for engineering investigation, those fields don’t come along unless your integration specifically maps them. The context that would help your AI agent (and your engineering team) understand priority and urgency stays behind. Schema mismatches corrupt the data AI agents need most Even when integrations attempt to sync custom fields, schema differences between systems create data corruption. Your “Priority” field in Zendesk uses High/Medium/Low. Jira uses Blocker/Critical/Major/Minor. A basic integration might map High to Critical, but what about when context matters? A High priority ticket from an enterprise customer should map to Blocker, while High priority from a trial user maps to Major. You track resolution history in Salesforce using a multi-select picklist: “Billing Issue, Product Bug, Feature Request, Configuration.” ServiceNow stores similar data as tags with different names: “Finance, Engineering, Product, Implementation.” Unless your integration translates between these schemas intelligently, the data either doesn’t sync or arrives in a format no one can use. Schema translation isn’t optional. It’s what makes data meaningful across different systems. Without it, your AI agent sees fields that are technically populated but contain values it can’t interpret. What unified context actually requires Moving data between systems isn’t the same as unifying context. Unified context means your AI agent has access to complete, accurate customer information regardless of which system originally captured it, updated in real-time as things change. That requires more than basic field copying. You need a synchronization infrastructure that preserves data meaning across different schemas, keeps all systems current simultaneously, and provides surgical control over what context flows where. Bidirectional sync keeps context complete in all systems One-way syncs create information asymmetry. Your Zendesk ticket creates a Jira issue, but when engineering adds implementation notes in Jira, that context doesn’t flow back. Your support team can’t see it. Your AI agent can’t see it. The next customer inquiry about the same issue starts from scratch because half the context is trapped in the engineering tool. Bidirectional sync solves this by treating both systems as equally authoritative. Updates in either direction propagate to both. Engineering adds findings in Jira, support sees them in Zendesk. Support updates customer impact assessment in Zendesk, engineering sees it in Jira. Your AI agent working from either system has complete context. This matters most during ticket escalations, where context needs to flow across system boundaries without degradation. When a Level 1 agent escalates to Level 2, then to engineering, the customer history, troubleshooting already attempted, and business impact need to follow that ticket through every system involved. Field-level control preserves the context AI agents need Not all data should sync everywhere. You need granular control over which fields flow between systems, how they map, and in which direction they sync. Your account executive notes in Salesforce contain sensitive contract negotiation details that shouldn’t be visible in your support system. But the contract tier, renewal date, and account health score absolutely should sync because your AI agent needs them to prioritize effectively. Field-level mapping control allows you to define these boundaries precisely. You might sync your Zendesk “Customer Impact” field to Jira’s “Business Value” field, but keep internal team notes separate. You might pull account tier and contract details from Salesforce to Zendesk but not sync individual opportunity records. This granularity extends to conditional logic: sync differently based on account tier, route based on ticket type, escalate based on customer health score. Your integration logic should reflect your business logic, not work around limitations in all-or-nothing sync. The difference between data copying and context unification is control. Copying moves everything indiscriminately. Unification provides the precision to build exactly the context view your AI agents need. How to evaluate integration platforms for AI context delivery Most integration platforms will claim they support the capabilities above. You need to validate those claims against what actually works in production, not what sounds good in demos. Start with custom field support. Ask the vendor to show you in their actual product how you map a custom field from your CRM to your support system. Can you see both field schemas side by side? Can you define the mapping visually or do you need to write code? What happens when field types don’t match perfectly? Test schema translation capability by asking about a specific mismatch you know exists in your stack. “Our priority values are different in these two systems. Show me how your platform handles that.” Watch what they do. If they suggest manually maintaining the mapping in a spreadsheet somewhere, that’s not schema translation. It’s workaround management. Verify bidirectional sync by asking what happens when the same record updates in both systems simultaneously. Some platforms just overwrite based on timestamp, which means data loss. Others detect conflicts and allow you to define resolution rules. The difference matters when your support team and engineering team are both updating the same ticket. Check real-time performance. “Real-time” means different things to different vendors. Some sync every fifteen minutes and call it real-time. Some sync within seconds. For AI agents making decisions based on current customer context, fifteen-minute lag means working from stale information. Ask for specific sync frequency and latency numbers. Look for red flags in the answers you get. If everything is “yes, we can do that” without demonstrating how, you’re hearing sales promises, not technical reality. If every capability requires custom development or professional services, you’re not buying a platform. You’re funding a project. If the demo only shows standard fields syncing between popular tools, you’re seeing the easy case, not the hard problems you actually need to solve. The evaluation criteria that matter are the ones that reflect your production reality, not idealized scenarios. Test with your actual system organization, your actual schema mismatches, and your actual custom fields. Start with a context audit Before you can fix context fragmentation, you need to map where it exists. Start by identifying every system that contains customer information your AI agents might need to make better decisions. Create a simple inventory: Salesforce has account tier, contract details, health scores Zendesk has support history, ticket resolutions, customer sentiment Jira has active development work, bug reports, feature requests Stripe has payment history and subscription status Slack has informal customer conversations and escalation threads For each system, note which fields are actually critical for decision-making. Not every field matters. Your AI agent doesn’t need to know the sales rep’s mobile number, but it absolutely needs to know the customer’s subscription tier and whether they’re currently in implementation. Then map the gaps. Where does context get lost today? When tickets escalate from Zendesk to Jira, what information doesn’t make the trip? When your AI agent responds to a billing question, what context from Stripe would change how it handles the inquiry? Prioritize based on impact. Some context gaps cause minor inconvenience. Others cause ticket escalations that waste engineering time, frustrate customers, or risk churn. Focus on the gaps where unified context would measurably improve how your customer service process handles escalations. This audit provides the business case for fixing integration infrastructure. When you can quantify how many tickets get escalated unnecessarily because AI agents lack account context, or how much time support teams spend recreating context that exists in other systems, the ROI of unified context becomes clear. Make AI agents as effective as they should be Your AI agents have the capability to deliver exceptional customer service. What they’re missing is complete context. The information they need to make smart decisions exists in your systems. It’s just not accessible where the decisions get made. Unified cross-tool context changes that. When your AI agent sees the full customer picture such as account history, subscription tier, active projects, previous support interactions, then it can handle inquiries that currently require escalation, personalize responses based on actual customer context, and route issues correctly the first time. Unito delivers bidirectional sync with granular field-level control in a single platform, eliminating the context gaps that force AI agents to work blind. With real-time synchronization across support, CRM, project management, and development tools, your AI agents can access complete customer context regardless of which system originally captured it. Learn more about how Unito’s platform connects your tools to deliver the unified context your AI agents need. View the full article

Move raises questions about whether deal can be done before November 30 deadlineView the full article

To obtain a free business license in your area, start by identifying the specific licenses or permits your business type requires. Many regions don’t mandate a general business license, but certain industries may need specialized permits that can often be secured without cost. You should likewise consider applying for home occupation permits if you’re running a home-based business. Comprehending these requirements is essential, as they can vary greatly. What’s next in the process? Key Takeaways Check if a general business license is required in your area, as many locations do not mandate one in Texas. Research specific permits needed for your business type, such as sales tax permits or health department permits. For home-based businesses, apply for a home occupation permit through your local government. Utilize online resources like the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for applicable licenses and permits. Obtain your Employer Identification Number (EIN) for free through the IRS online application, as it’s often needed for business registration. Understanding Business Licenses in Texas In Texas, traversing the domain of business licenses can be straightforward if you understand the specific requirements for your type of business. Unlike some states, Texas doesn’t require a general state business license. Nonetheless, depending on what you’re doing, you may need specific permits. For instance, if you sell or lease tangible goods, you’ll need a Sales Tax Permit, which you can easily obtain online through eSystems. Food service businesses typically require local health department permits, whereas home-based businesses might need a home occupation permit. Texas Sole Proprietorships and General Partnerships In Texas, starting a sole proprietorship or general partnership is straightforward since you don’t need to register with the Secretary of State. Nevertheless, if you plan to operate under a name different from your legal name, you’ll need to file an Assumed Name Certificate with the county clerk in each county where your business operates. Keep in mind that each county has its own form and fee for this filing, so it’s crucial to check the local requirements to guarantee compliance. Filing Assumed Name Certificate To legally operate your Texas Sole Proprietorship or General Partnership under a name different from your own, filing an Assumed Name Certificate is essential. In Texas, you don’t need to register with the Secretary of State, but you must file this certificate with the county clerk in each county where you plan to do business. Each county has its own specific form and filing fee, so it’s important to check with the local county clerk’s office for details. The application typically includes your desired business name, your legal name, and your business address. Once filed, your Assumed Name Certificate allows you to legally conduct business under that name, similar to requirements for a Mississippi business license or Nevada business license and Wisconsin business licenses and permits. County Clerk Registration Requirements Comprehending the county clerk registration requirements for Texas sole proprietorships and general partnerships is crucial for operating your business legally. Here are key points to ponder: You must file an Assumed Name Certificate if your business name differs from your legal name. This certificate needs to be filed with the county clerk in each county where you operate. Each county has its own filing form and fee structure. Not filing the certificate can lead to legal issues or the inability to enforce contracts under your business name. Always check with your local county clerk’s office for specific requirements. Additionally, during your exploration of how to get a business license in Nevada, keep in mind that the processes and structures can differ, similar to how the state of NV business license operates. LLCs and Corporations When you’re considering forming an LLC or corporation, you’ll need to navigate the registration process, which involves filing a Certificate of Formation with the state. One of the main advantages of these business structures is the limited liability protection they offer, shielding your personal assets from business debts and lawsuits. Nevertheless, keep in mind that there are costs involved, including filing fees and potential ongoing compliance expenses, like annual reports and franchise taxes. Registration Process Overview Registering an LLC or corporation in Texas is a crucial step for entrepreneurs seeking limited liability protection, as it shields owners from personal responsibility for business debts and lawsuits. Unlike a sole proprietorship, Texas Secretary of State and corporations require formal registration with the Texas Secretary of State. Here’s a quick overview of the registration process: File a Certificate of Formation, costing $300 by mail or $310 online. Consider using company formation services, typically around $100 plus state fees. Be aware of ongoing compliance requirements, like annual reports and fees. Keep your business entity in good standing to maintain its legal protections. For those looking for a free business license in Nevada, remember to check local regulations for a Nevada business license. Limited Liability Benefits Limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations offer substantial protection for owners by separating personal assets from business liabilities. This means that if your business incurs debts or faces lawsuits, your personal assets, like your home and savings, are typically safe. To form an LLC or corporation in Texas, you’ll need to file a Certificate of Formation, which costs $300 by mail or $310 online. LLCs also allow flexible management and offer pass-through taxation, where profits are taxed only on your personal return, helping you avoid double taxation. Furthermore, having limited liability status can improve your business’s credibility with clients and investors, making it easier to secure funding and capitalize on opportunities during the protection of your personal finances. Cost Considerations Starting a business in Texas involves several cost considerations, especially when forming an LLC or corporation. Here are some key financial aspects you should keep in mind: Filing a Certificate of Formation costs $300 by mail or $310 online. No general business license is required, but local licensing fees vary by business type and location. Check local government websites for specific licensing costs. LLCs provide limited liability protection from business debts, potentially saving you money in the long run. Additional services for company formation can cost $100, plus state fees, which are separate from registration costs. Understanding these costs guarantees you’re prepared to budget effectively for your new business venture. Texas Sales Tax Permit If you’re planning to sell or lease tangible property or taxable services in Texas, obtaining a Texas Sales Tax Permit is essential for compliance with state regulations. This permit, also referred to as a seller’s permit, is mandatory for your business operations. You can conveniently apply for it online through the Texas Comptroller’s eSystems platform. In the application, you’ll need to provide specific information, including social security numbers and your business’s NAICS code. The good news is that there’s no fee to obtain this permit, making it cost-effective. Once issued, you must display the permit at your business location and are required to collect and remit sales tax on all taxable sales to guarantee compliance with state tax laws. How to Apply for a Texas Sales Tax Permit How can you easily apply for a Texas Sales Tax Permit? Start by visiting the Texas Comptroller’s eSystems website to complete your application online. Here’s what you’ll need: Your social security number The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for your business Basic business information, including your address The type of business structure you have No application fee, making it a cost-effective process Once you submit your application, you’ll receive your permit, which allows you to collect sales tax on taxable sales. It’s essential to renew your permit as required and stay updated on local sales tax rates to guarantee compliance with state regulations. Local Texas Business Licenses In Texas, most cities and counties don’t require a general business license, but specific industries often need local permits. If you’re starting a food service or a home-based business, you’ll likely have to check in with your local health department or zoning office for necessary permits. It’s essential to understand that licensing requirements can vary, so visiting your city or county’s website is a smart step in ensuring compliance. Licensing Requirements Overview Maneuvering the licensing requirements for starting a business in Texas can be straightforward, but it requires attention to detail. Although most cities and counties don’t require a general business license, specific licenses may be necessary depending on your business type. Here are some key points to take into account: Food service businesses need permits from the local health department. Home-based businesses may require a home occupation permit. Licensing applications and renewals can often be completed online via the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) website. Local government websites outline the specific permits and licenses required in your area. Always verify local regulations to guarantee compliance. Local Permits for Businesses What local permits do you need to operate your business in Texas? Although there’s no general business license required, specific permits depend on your business type and local regulations. For instance, if you’re starting a food service business, you’ll typically need permits from the local health department to meet health and safety standards. If you plan to run a home-based business, a home occupation permit may be necessary to operate legally from your residence. To find detailed information on the specific licensing requirements and associated fees for your business, visit your local government website. Moreover, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) provides online applications for many licenses, simplifying renewals and updates. Application Process Steps When you’re ready to apply for local business licenses in Texas, it’s crucial to follow a systematic approach to guarantee compliance with all regulations. Here are the key steps to take into account: Research your specific business type and any required licenses or permits. Visit your local government website for accurate information on local regulations. If applicable, apply for a home occupation permit for home-based businesses. Obtain necessary permits from the local health department, especially for food service businesses. Complete your application through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) online for convenience. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Resources If you’re looking to start a business in Texas, grasping the resources provided by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is essential. TDLR manages various business licenses for specific industries, acting as a central resource for application and renewal processes. You can apply for many licenses online through their website, simplifying the experience for entrepreneurs. Furthermore, TDLR offers guidance on compliance with state licensing requirements, ensuring your business operates legally. Remember, the costs for licenses vary depending on the business type and municipality, so it’s important to check the specific requirements and fees that apply. Finally, TDLR facilitates online renewal and updates of licenses, making it easier for you to maintain compliance. Does Texas Require a Business License? Starting a business in Texas can be straightforward, especially since the state doesn’t require a general business license for most operations. Nevertheless, there are some important considerations you should keep in mind: Specific industries, like food service, may need local health department permits. An Assumed Name Certificate is necessary if you operate under a name that differs from your legal name. Local regulations can vary, so always check requirements based on your business location. It’s essential to comply with any local licensing and permitting rules before launching your business. Utilize local government websites for detailed information on necessary permits and licenses. How Much Does a Business License Cost in Texas? Comprehending the costs associated with obtaining a business license in Texas can help you better prepare for your entrepreneurial expedition. Typically, Texas doesn’t require a general business license, so many entrepreneurs won’t face licensing costs. On the other hand, if you’re in a specific industry, like food service, you might need permits from local health departments, which can vary in fees. If you’re forming an LLC or corporation, expect to pay $300 for mail filings or $310 online, plus any local permits. Furthermore, each county may impose its own fees for an Assumed Name Certificate if you operate under a different name. Local business licenses and permits can vary widely in cost depending on your municipality and business type, so do your research. How Do I Get a Texas Business Tax ID? Wondering how to obtain a Texas Business Tax ID? You can get your Employer Identification Number (EIN) for free through the IRS. Here’s how: Apply online on the IRS website for immediate results. Submit Form SS-4 by mail or fax if you prefer. Make certain you have your legal business name and address ready. Identify your business structure, whether it’s a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. Remember, this ID is essential for opening a business bank account, applying for licenses, and filing taxes. Completing the application online takes just minutes, and you’ll receive your Texas Business Tax ID instantly. It’s an important step for managing your business effectively in Texas. Ready to Start Doing Business in Texas? As you prepare to do business in Texas, it’s vital to understand the specific requirements that may apply to your venture. In addition, Texas doesn’t require a general business license, you’ll need specific licenses and permits based on your business type and location. For home-based businesses, securing a home occupation permit from your local government is critical for zoning compliance. If you operate under a different name, file an Assumed Name Certificate with the county clerk where you do business. Most businesses selling tangible goods or taxable services need a Texas Sales Tax Permit, which you can apply for online. Furthermore, food service businesses might require local health department permits, so check your city and county regulations for details. Frequently Asked Questions How Much Is a Texas Business License? In Texas, most businesses don’t require a general business license, so you mightn’t have any licensing fees. Nevertheless, if you’re in a regulated industry like food service, you’ll need permits from local health departments, which can vary in cost. Furthermore, whereas sole proprietorships and general partnerships often don’t register with the Secretary of State, they may need to file an Assumed Name Certificate, which involves a county-specific fee. How Much Does a Washington Business License Cost? In Washington State, the cost of a business license typically ranges from $0 to several hundred dollars, depending on your business type and local jurisdiction. The basic Washington State Business License Application fee is $19, granting you a master business license. Nevertheless, additional fees may apply for specific endorsements or permits. Keep in mind that some cities likewise charge their own local business license fees, which can increase your overall costs considerably. Does the State of Iowa Require a Business License? Iowa doesn’t have a state-wide business license requirement, so most businesses can operate without one. Nevertheless, if you’re in certain industries, like food service or healthcare, you might need specific permits. It’s essential to check local regulations, as municipalities may have their own licensing rules. Furthermore, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals oversees many industry-specific licenses. Always review local ordinances to guarantee compliance and avoid potential issues. What Business Does Not Require a Business License? Many businesses don’t require a business license, particularly those that provide services without selling tangible goods. Consulting, freelance writing, and certain online ventures often fall into this category. Nevertheless, local regulations can vary considerably, so it’s essential to check your city or county’s requirements. Furthermore, home-based businesses might need a home occupation permit, even when they don’t require a general business license. Always verify specific guidelines to guarantee compliance. Conclusion In summary, obtaining a free business license in Texas requires comprehension of the specific requirements for your business type. Whereas general licenses may not be necessary, certain permits, like home occupation permits, could apply. You should additionally consider applying for a Texas Sales Tax Permit if needed. By researching local regulations and following the application process, you can guarantee compliance and start your business on solid ground. Take the necessary steps to set up your business effectively and legally. Image via Google Gemini This article, "How to Obtain a Free Business License in Your Area" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

To obtain a free business license in your area, start by identifying the specific licenses or permits your business type requires. Many regions don’t mandate a general business license, but certain industries may need specialized permits that can often be secured without cost. You should likewise consider applying for home occupation permits if you’re running a home-based business. Comprehending these requirements is essential, as they can vary greatly. What’s next in the process? Key Takeaways Check if a general business license is required in your area, as many locations do not mandate one in Texas. Research specific permits needed for your business type, such as sales tax permits or health department permits. For home-based businesses, apply for a home occupation permit through your local government. Utilize online resources like the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for applicable licenses and permits. Obtain your Employer Identification Number (EIN) for free through the IRS online application, as it’s often needed for business registration. Understanding Business Licenses in Texas In Texas, traversing the domain of business licenses can be straightforward if you understand the specific requirements for your type of business. Unlike some states, Texas doesn’t require a general state business license. Nonetheless, depending on what you’re doing, you may need specific permits. For instance, if you sell or lease tangible goods, you’ll need a Sales Tax Permit, which you can easily obtain online through eSystems. Food service businesses typically require local health department permits, whereas home-based businesses might need a home occupation permit. Texas Sole Proprietorships and General Partnerships In Texas, starting a sole proprietorship or general partnership is straightforward since you don’t need to register with the Secretary of State. Nevertheless, if you plan to operate under a name different from your legal name, you’ll need to file an Assumed Name Certificate with the county clerk in each county where your business operates. Keep in mind that each county has its own form and fee for this filing, so it’s crucial to check the local requirements to guarantee compliance. Filing Assumed Name Certificate To legally operate your Texas Sole Proprietorship or General Partnership under a name different from your own, filing an Assumed Name Certificate is essential. In Texas, you don’t need to register with the Secretary of State, but you must file this certificate with the county clerk in each county where you plan to do business. Each county has its own specific form and filing fee, so it’s important to check with the local county clerk’s office for details. The application typically includes your desired business name, your legal name, and your business address. Once filed, your Assumed Name Certificate allows you to legally conduct business under that name, similar to requirements for a Mississippi business license or Nevada business license and Wisconsin business licenses and permits. County Clerk Registration Requirements Comprehending the county clerk registration requirements for Texas sole proprietorships and general partnerships is crucial for operating your business legally. Here are key points to ponder: You must file an Assumed Name Certificate if your business name differs from your legal name. This certificate needs to be filed with the county clerk in each county where you operate. Each county has its own filing form and fee structure. Not filing the certificate can lead to legal issues or the inability to enforce contracts under your business name. Always check with your local county clerk’s office for specific requirements. Additionally, during your exploration of how to get a business license in Nevada, keep in mind that the processes and structures can differ, similar to how the state of NV business license operates. LLCs and Corporations When you’re considering forming an LLC or corporation, you’ll need to navigate the registration process, which involves filing a Certificate of Formation with the state. One of the main advantages of these business structures is the limited liability protection they offer, shielding your personal assets from business debts and lawsuits. Nevertheless, keep in mind that there are costs involved, including filing fees and potential ongoing compliance expenses, like annual reports and franchise taxes. Registration Process Overview Registering an LLC or corporation in Texas is a crucial step for entrepreneurs seeking limited liability protection, as it shields owners from personal responsibility for business debts and lawsuits. Unlike a sole proprietorship, Texas Secretary of State and corporations require formal registration with the Texas Secretary of State. Here’s a quick overview of the registration process: File a Certificate of Formation, costing $300 by mail or $310 online. Consider using company formation services, typically around $100 plus state fees. Be aware of ongoing compliance requirements, like annual reports and fees. Keep your business entity in good standing to maintain its legal protections. For those looking for a free business license in Nevada, remember to check local regulations for a Nevada business license. Limited Liability Benefits Limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations offer substantial protection for owners by separating personal assets from business liabilities. This means that if your business incurs debts or faces lawsuits, your personal assets, like your home and savings, are typically safe. To form an LLC or corporation in Texas, you’ll need to file a Certificate of Formation, which costs $300 by mail or $310 online. LLCs also allow flexible management and offer pass-through taxation, where profits are taxed only on your personal return, helping you avoid double taxation. Furthermore, having limited liability status can improve your business’s credibility with clients and investors, making it easier to secure funding and capitalize on opportunities during the protection of your personal finances. Cost Considerations Starting a business in Texas involves several cost considerations, especially when forming an LLC or corporation. Here are some key financial aspects you should keep in mind: Filing a Certificate of Formation costs $300 by mail or $310 online. No general business license is required, but local licensing fees vary by business type and location. Check local government websites for specific licensing costs. LLCs provide limited liability protection from business debts, potentially saving you money in the long run. Additional services for company formation can cost $100, plus state fees, which are separate from registration costs. Understanding these costs guarantees you’re prepared to budget effectively for your new business venture. Texas Sales Tax Permit If you’re planning to sell or lease tangible property or taxable services in Texas, obtaining a Texas Sales Tax Permit is essential for compliance with state regulations. This permit, also referred to as a seller’s permit, is mandatory for your business operations. You can conveniently apply for it online through the Texas Comptroller’s eSystems platform. In the application, you’ll need to provide specific information, including social security numbers and your business’s NAICS code. The good news is that there’s no fee to obtain this permit, making it cost-effective. Once issued, you must display the permit at your business location and are required to collect and remit sales tax on all taxable sales to guarantee compliance with state tax laws. How to Apply for a Texas Sales Tax Permit How can you easily apply for a Texas Sales Tax Permit? Start by visiting the Texas Comptroller’s eSystems website to complete your application online. Here’s what you’ll need: Your social security number The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for your business Basic business information, including your address The type of business structure you have No application fee, making it a cost-effective process Once you submit your application, you’ll receive your permit, which allows you to collect sales tax on taxable sales. It’s essential to renew your permit as required and stay updated on local sales tax rates to guarantee compliance with state regulations. Local Texas Business Licenses In Texas, most cities and counties don’t require a general business license, but specific industries often need local permits. If you’re starting a food service or a home-based business, you’ll likely have to check in with your local health department or zoning office for necessary permits. It’s essential to understand that licensing requirements can vary, so visiting your city or county’s website is a smart step in ensuring compliance. Licensing Requirements Overview Maneuvering the licensing requirements for starting a business in Texas can be straightforward, but it requires attention to detail. Although most cities and counties don’t require a general business license, specific licenses may be necessary depending on your business type. Here are some key points to take into account: Food service businesses need permits from the local health department. Home-based businesses may require a home occupation permit. Licensing applications and renewals can often be completed online via the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) website. Local government websites outline the specific permits and licenses required in your area. Always verify local regulations to guarantee compliance. Local Permits for Businesses What local permits do you need to operate your business in Texas? Although there’s no general business license required, specific permits depend on your business type and local regulations. For instance, if you’re starting a food service business, you’ll typically need permits from the local health department to meet health and safety standards. If you plan to run a home-based business, a home occupation permit may be necessary to operate legally from your residence. To find detailed information on the specific licensing requirements and associated fees for your business, visit your local government website. Moreover, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) provides online applications for many licenses, simplifying renewals and updates. Application Process Steps When you’re ready to apply for local business licenses in Texas, it’s crucial to follow a systematic approach to guarantee compliance with all regulations. Here are the key steps to take into account: Research your specific business type and any required licenses or permits. Visit your local government website for accurate information on local regulations. If applicable, apply for a home occupation permit for home-based businesses. Obtain necessary permits from the local health department, especially for food service businesses. Complete your application through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) online for convenience. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Resources If you’re looking to start a business in Texas, grasping the resources provided by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is essential. TDLR manages various business licenses for specific industries, acting as a central resource for application and renewal processes. You can apply for many licenses online through their website, simplifying the experience for entrepreneurs. Furthermore, TDLR offers guidance on compliance with state licensing requirements, ensuring your business operates legally. Remember, the costs for licenses vary depending on the business type and municipality, so it’s important to check the specific requirements and fees that apply. Finally, TDLR facilitates online renewal and updates of licenses, making it easier for you to maintain compliance. Does Texas Require a Business License? Starting a business in Texas can be straightforward, especially since the state doesn’t require a general business license for most operations. Nevertheless, there are some important considerations you should keep in mind: Specific industries, like food service, may need local health department permits. An Assumed Name Certificate is necessary if you operate under a name that differs from your legal name. Local regulations can vary, so always check requirements based on your business location. It’s essential to comply with any local licensing and permitting rules before launching your business. Utilize local government websites for detailed information on necessary permits and licenses. How Much Does a Business License Cost in Texas? Comprehending the costs associated with obtaining a business license in Texas can help you better prepare for your entrepreneurial expedition. Typically, Texas doesn’t require a general business license, so many entrepreneurs won’t face licensing costs. On the other hand, if you’re in a specific industry, like food service, you might need permits from local health departments, which can vary in fees. If you’re forming an LLC or corporation, expect to pay $300 for mail filings or $310 online, plus any local permits. Furthermore, each county may impose its own fees for an Assumed Name Certificate if you operate under a different name. Local business licenses and permits can vary widely in cost depending on your municipality and business type, so do your research. How Do I Get a Texas Business Tax ID? Wondering how to obtain a Texas Business Tax ID? You can get your Employer Identification Number (EIN) for free through the IRS. Here’s how: Apply online on the IRS website for immediate results. Submit Form SS-4 by mail or fax if you prefer. Make certain you have your legal business name and address ready. Identify your business structure, whether it’s a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. Remember, this ID is essential for opening a business bank account, applying for licenses, and filing taxes. Completing the application online takes just minutes, and you’ll receive your Texas Business Tax ID instantly. It’s an important step for managing your business effectively in Texas. Ready to Start Doing Business in Texas? As you prepare to do business in Texas, it’s vital to understand the specific requirements that may apply to your venture. In addition, Texas doesn’t require a general business license, you’ll need specific licenses and permits based on your business type and location. For home-based businesses, securing a home occupation permit from your local government is critical for zoning compliance. If you operate under a different name, file an Assumed Name Certificate with the county clerk where you do business. Most businesses selling tangible goods or taxable services need a Texas Sales Tax Permit, which you can apply for online. Furthermore, food service businesses might require local health department permits, so check your city and county regulations for details. Frequently Asked Questions How Much Is a Texas Business License? In Texas, most businesses don’t require a general business license, so you mightn’t have any licensing fees. Nevertheless, if you’re in a regulated industry like food service, you’ll need permits from local health departments, which can vary in cost. Furthermore, whereas sole proprietorships and general partnerships often don’t register with the Secretary of State, they may need to file an Assumed Name Certificate, which involves a county-specific fee. How Much Does a Washington Business License Cost? In Washington State, the cost of a business license typically ranges from $0 to several hundred dollars, depending on your business type and local jurisdiction. The basic Washington State Business License Application fee is $19, granting you a master business license. Nevertheless, additional fees may apply for specific endorsements or permits. Keep in mind that some cities likewise charge their own local business license fees, which can increase your overall costs considerably. Does the State of Iowa Require a Business License? Iowa doesn’t have a state-wide business license requirement, so most businesses can operate without one. Nevertheless, if you’re in certain industries, like food service or healthcare, you might need specific permits. It’s essential to check local regulations, as municipalities may have their own licensing rules. Furthermore, the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals oversees many industry-specific licenses. Always review local ordinances to guarantee compliance and avoid potential issues. What Business Does Not Require a Business License? Many businesses don’t require a business license, particularly those that provide services without selling tangible goods. Consulting, freelance writing, and certain online ventures often fall into this category. Nevertheless, local regulations can vary considerably, so it’s essential to check your city or county’s requirements. Furthermore, home-based businesses might need a home occupation permit, even when they don’t require a general business license. Always verify specific guidelines to guarantee compliance. Conclusion In summary, obtaining a free business license in Texas requires comprehension of the specific requirements for your business type. Whereas general licenses may not be necessary, certain permits, like home occupation permits, could apply. You should additionally consider applying for a Texas Sales Tax Permit if needed. By researching local regulations and following the application process, you can guarantee compliance and start your business on solid ground. Take the necessary steps to set up your business effectively and legally. Image via Google Gemini This article, "How to Obtain a Free Business License in Your Area" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Semrush will be acquired by Adobe, the two companies announced today. "Adobe and Semrush announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Adobe will acquire Semrush, a leading brand visibility platform, in an all-cash transaction for $12.00 per share, representing a total equity value of approximately $1.9 billion," the press release said.View the full article

I've been reading and writing about productivity techniques for years now, and I continue to be shocked by the sheer variety and quantity on offer. There are so many (some admittedly more "duh" than others), and while many could easily slot right into my workflow, others led me to think, "Wow, that one wouldn't work for me at all." Obviously I don't personally use all of the methods I've written about, but it's not because I don't believe in them. The fact is that no technique will work for every person, and no one person is going to be suited to every technique. The trick is to figure out which one(s) might work for you. It's easy to learn about a technique, be persuaded to see its value, and decide to implement it, but if it's not altogether aligned with your needs, it's probably not going to work for you as advertised. Instead of picking a productivity method that sounds good, you're better off selecting one that is better suited to you and how you work. Here's what to look for. The best productivity method if you're a visual thinker...If you need to visualize something to really understand it—like if you prefer to see graphs instead of reading about statistics or numbers—there are some solid productivity techniques out there for you. The best is probably the "pickle jar" technique, which asks you to imagine your daily capacity as a jar that can hold a finite amount of rocks, pebbles, and sand. The rocks are your big tasks, pebbles are important tasks that aren't immediately necessary, and sand is the little maintenance work you do to keep your day moving along. You load in your rocks first, then your pebbles, and finally the sand, to make sure you have enough time for it all. You can draw out a little diagram to help you prioritize your to-do list this way. Essentially, the pickle jar is a simple, more visual way to work through the 1-3-5 approach, which acknowledges the fact that you can't do everything, so you have to be selective about what you do attempt. With 1-3-5, you do one major task, three medium-sized ones, and five smaller ones each day. Whether you're imagining a jar full of debris or more methodically writing out the 1-3-5 list, you might need assistance determining what a "rock"-sized task is, or what five small tasks are. That's where prioritization techniques come in—and the best one, in my opinion, is also suited to visual thinkers. Called the Eisenhower matrix, this prioritization approach helps you streamline your to-dos by creating a chart that demonstrates which of your tasks are urgent, important, not urgent, and not important. Give it a try if you're having a hard time constructing the pickle jar. The best productivity method if you need motivation to get started...With some productivity methods, you're meant to just figure out what you need to do, then get cracking on it. That doesn't work for everyone. It certainly doesn't work for me—I need to get a burst of motivation or a spark of energy to keep grinding on a to-do list. The best options for people like me, in my opinion, are eating the frog or the two-minute rule. "Eating the frog" is a weird saying, but it boils down to tackling your most demanding, dreaded, or important task before you do anything else. The two-minute rule is similar, but when you try to follow that one, you commit to doing anything that takes less than two minutes the moment it pops into your head. I stick to a combination of the two, endeavoring to accomplish my biggest to-do early in the day, but allowing myself to start any task the moment motivation strikes, provided it's doable in a shorter time frame. In my experience, eating the frog works well for me because once I have the most pressing thing out of the way, I'm so relieved and proud of myself that anything else I have to do seems easy in comparison. If I can do the terrible thing, I can do anything. On the other hand, the opposite approach can have a similar result, so try the 10-minute rule if eating the frog feels daunting but you still need a little motivational push. With this method, you blow through all those little tasks that take 10 minutes or less to do, like answering emails or folding the laundry, so you can concentrate on the bigger stuff. As minor as they are, the little things can feel overwhelming, and they're easy to put off. If you get them all done with so they're not weighing on you, you'll feel better and more prepared to do everything else. There's a slight difference between the two- and 10-minute rules, so play around with all of these to see what works for you. The best productivity method if you don't feel connected to your work...The tasks of daily life can be menial and if you're not the kind of person who just buckles down and does what needs to be done, that can be a good reason to put it all off. If you can't justify spending an afternoon cleaning up or a morning responding to emails, you might be motivated by purpose, so try the Results Planning Method (RPM), which comes from famed motivational speaker Tony Robbins, who outlined it in his Time of Your Life program and designed it to be motivational, fast, and efficient. Not only does does the acronym stand for Rapid Planning Method, but it can also serve as a guide to what your day should look like: Results-oriented, purpose-driven, and built around a "massive action plan." You have to consistently ask yourself what you want, what your purpose is, and what you need to do to achieve it. So maybe you won't clean up just because it's that time of the week to do it, but you'll be more motivated to do it if you think of a broader purpose, like having the house in shape so you can have friends over for dinner. Doing something for the sake of it just doesn't motivate everyone and that's fine. Another way you can feel connected to your tasks is by putting some extra thought into them. The Ivy Lee method calls on you to write down six tasks you have to do the next day. You should do this at the end of every work day (or at the end of the night, if the tasks are home-related). By writing them down, you get them out of your mind and know you'll get to them the next day, so you can relax in the knowledge that you already have half a plan ready to go when you wake up. When I don't feel connected to my own work, I write out a SMART goal. That means I take the time to write out a plan that is specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and time-bound. By doing this, I force myself to think long-term about the biggest picture goals I have, then work backward to determine what small steps I need to take to make those a reality within the time frame I've outlined. This works for me because as I start working on those steps, I keep the bigger goal in mind; that keeps me focused and connected to what I'm doing, even if it feels menial in the moment. The best productivity method if you need a detailed plan...When you're eating the frog or jotting down a few to-dos, you just kind of wing it, designating your "big task" and going for it. But sometimes, it's nice to have a detailed schedule in place. Here, I recommend the 3-3-3 method, but first, you'll need to whip out the old Eisenhower matrix I mentioned before. Once you have everything categorized, you can move over to 3-3-3, which asks you to spend the first three hours of your day engaging in deep work on your most important project, then do three other urgent tasks that don't require as much time, and finish up with three maintenance tasks. It's a combination of eating the frog and visualizing the pickle jar, but it incorporates pretty strict scheduling to keep you on task. Let's talk about deep work for a second. Deep work is what happens when you're in a flow state, focusing solely on one task with no distractions. You'll know you've achieved it when time feels like it flies by. If you struggle to sink into it, there's a technique for you. Actually, there are a few, but they're all based on the same idea. Try the Pomodoro method, which has you work for 25 minutes, take a five-minute break, then repeat that cycle until you've completed four rounds. After that, you get a bigger break. Ideally, use an app designed to time your work sessions and block your other, more distracting apps. (FocusPomo is my favorite.) If this isn't working for you, don't give up. You can and should modify your Pomodoro times to meet your own needs if you have to. There are already Pomodoro spin-offs out there, like Pomodoro 2.0 and animedoro, but feel free to fiddle around until you invent your own. The best productivity method if you're being pulled in too many directions...Your life is complex. You're not just an employee, but potentially a parent, a spouse, a friend, a volunteer, a freelance or recreational something-or-other—and that's to say nothing of what you are to yourself, whether that's someone who prioritizes the gym or someone who can't focus when the house is a mess. If you're following a traditional productivity technique throughout the day, it can be hard to determine the tasks from each area of your life that should be taken care of. Certainly, a work responsibility, family matter, or personal obligation is bound to fall through the cracks in favor of something else. If that's holding you up, consider theming your days. Mondays might be for all your maintenance tasks at work, like answering emails or having meetings. Tuesdays might be the day you set aside for cleaning your home or meal prepping. Wednesdays might be the day you work on tasks for a board you sit on or a part-time job. Within that structure, you can call on one of the techniques above, like 1-3-5, knowing that the majority of your to-dos that day will all be related to whatever the theme is. This keeps you focused and in the zone, whatever the zone is, each day, but also allows you to devote necessary time to each of the arenas in which you're involved. No, it's not perfect. Something from an off-theme day will come up eventually and need to be addressed. But the goal here isn't to be strict about it. Rather, it's to give yourself a general sense of direction throughout the week. View the full article

When I was a kid, my favorite place in the world was hunched over a sewing machine. I’d cut up old jeans, hand-stitch fabric scraps into new outfits, and dream of someday seeing my clothes walk a runway. My notebooks were full of fashion drawings. Somewhere in my teens, that dream slipped quietly into the background. Life pulled me in a different direction. But this year, thanks to AI, I finally staged my first runway show at New York Fashion Week. Okay, not at the literal Fashion Week runways in Manhattan but on social media where people are scrolling for Fashion Week content. And the wild part? I pulled it together in one Friday night using my own AI-powered fashion brand, yanabanana. The tech stack behind the catwalk The show was called The Stockholm Archipelago Collection, inspired by a trip I took to Yasuragi, a Japanese-style spa perched on the water outside Stockholm. Architectural shapes, blue kimonos, and tall pines by the water were my mental mood board as I was designing my collection. Here’s how I translated inspiration into a digital runway: Sketch to photo: I started with a rough sketch of each look. Using Google’s Nano Banana image generation model, I transformed my doodles into photos. Sometimes I generated two photos (a “start” and “end” scene) that would ultimately create a more interesting runway moment. Models on the runway: Through prompt engineering, I iterated until all my looks walked the same runway that I had decorated with my photos of the water view from Yasuragi. Static to cinematic: I turned the images into short clips with Midjourney’s video model. It worked but I’ll be experimenting with different video models next season. Runway fluidity is tricky! Custom soundtrack: Every show needs a vibe, so I used Suno to generate an original Scandinavian inspired track to set the pace. Cut & polish: Finally, I stitched it all together in iMovie, as old-school as it gets in the age of AI. The result? A minute-long AI-powered runway film that could almost pass for an indie cut of a Fashion Week show. AI is the new sewing machine What I love about this process is that AI collapsed the barrier between imagination and execution. Ten-year-old me could only dream of sourcing fabrics, hiring models, and booking a venue. Today all I need is a sketch, a stack of AI models to create virtual human models, and a little curiosity. And yet, the story didn’t stop at the digital runway. From sketch to closet At one point, I even thought about building a platform where fashion designers could sketch with AI and then manufacture their garments. That idea simmered until I stumbled on Flair, an early- stage startup already doing exactly that. I joined one of their sessions with a roomful of fashion designers during San Francisco Design Week this spring. The format was like an AI version of Project Runway. Everyone created some designs, and whichever one got the most votes on their platform over the next week would be brought to life. Mine won. I sent in my measurements, and last week a package arrived. Inside was a dress that had started as a doodle on my notebook, passed through Flair’s AI workflow, and emerged as a real garment stitched together in the physical world. Slipping it on for the first time was magic. It was the same rush I felt as a kid cutting up old jeans. Except this time the runway wasn’t just in my imagination. It was hanging in my closet. The bigger picture For me, yanabanana isn’t about building a traditional fashion house. It’s about asking what does a fashion brand born in the age of AI even look like? Maybe it doesn’t need to produce clothes at all. Maybe its runways live on Instagram, soundtracked by generative beats, designed with prompts instead of pins. And maybe, sometimes, those designs make the leap from pixels to fabric. And maybe that’s exactly what makes it fashion-forward. Yana Welinder is Head of AI at Amplitude. She was CEO and founder of Kraftful (recently acquired by Amplitude). View the full article

Today, retail giant Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) reported its third-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings. Unfortunately, for the company and its investors, the results were a continuation of what Target has been seeing for years now: declining sales. Here’s what you need to know about Target’s Q3 and the impact the earnings are having on the company’s stock price today. Target’s Q3 2025 at a glance Here’s what the big box retailer reported for its Q3 2025: Net sales: $25.3 billion (down 1.4% from the same period in 2024) Adjusted earnings per share (EPS): $1.78 (down from $1.85 in the same period in 2024) Operating income: $948 million (down 18.9%) Net earnings: $689 million (down 19.3%) To put those first two all-important metrics into perspective, net sales came in below what analysts were expecting, but the company’s adjusted earnings per share came in slightly above. As CNBC notes, LSEG analysts expected Target to post revenue of $25.32 billion and an adjusted EPS of $1.72. One bright spot in Target’s Q3 results was digital comparable sales, which increased 2.4%. Announcing the company’s Q3 2025 earnings, Target’s incoming CEO, Michael Fiddelke, who takes the helm in February, said, “Thanks to the incredible work and dedication of the Target team, our third quarter performance was in line with our expectations, despite multiple challenges continuing to face our business.” Target’s sales woes continue What are those “multiple challenges”? Most broadly, Target has seen stagnant or declining quarterly sales for years now. Some of those sales woes are driven by factors not unique to Target. For several years now, retailers of all stripes have been seeing customers who are more cautious about how and where they spend their discretionary dollars. This caution has largely been spurred by inflationary pressures leading to rising cost-of-living expenses. The company, like most retailers, is also facing significant competition from other big-box giants, including Walmart, as well as from online retailers like Amazon and, in more recent years, Temu and Shein. However, several factors unique to Target have also impacted its sales for quite some time. As Fast Company reported in May, customers had been complaining about messier layouts, long lines, and understaffed stores. This had led to a notable decline in customer service in many customers’ eyes. Finally, earlier this year, Target rolled back some of its DEI initiatives after The President came to power. This prompted backlash and a boycott from many Target customers. Target has previously said this backlash impacted sales. All eyes on the holiday quarter—and TGT stock Despite the sales decline in Q3, Target maintained its outlook for its current Q4, which includes the all-important holiday period. Yet, that’s not exactly a good thing. Target had previously forecast that it expects its Q4 to see a low single-digit sales decline, and now it has confirmed that it still expects that decline (but at least, the company might argue, the decline isn’t forecast to be any worse). What Target did adjust was its full fiscal 2025 forecast. Target previously said it had expected adjusted earnings per share for the year to come in at between $7 to $9. But now the company says it expects adjusted EPS for fiscal 2025 to be between $7 and $8. Target’s stock reacted about as well as you would expect. As of this writing, TGT shares are currently trading down about 2.97% to $85.90 per share in premarket. The company’s stock price has had a rough 2025. Since the year began, TGT shares have declined more than 34% as of yesterday’s closing price of $88.53. Looking back over the past 12 months, things are even worse. During that time, TGT shares have declined more than 43% as of yesterday’s close. View the full article

John Healey warns that Britain’s rules of engagement have been changed in response to Yantar’s activitiesView the full article

AI has long driven PPC, yet success still depends on knowing where automation helps and where it hurts. The post Should Advertisers Be Worried About AI In PPC? appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

You’ve heard of a to-do list, but what you might actually need is a to-don’t list. Instead of focusing on all the tasks you have to get done, it could be beneficial for you to look at everything you don’t need to or even shouldn’t do in service of your larger goal. It sounds like a waste of time, but it’s not: Seeing clearly what shouldn’t be taking up your attention is a simple way to prioritize your time and focus on what really matters, which will lead to enhanced productivity and output. There are two kinds of to-don’t lists to employ. To-don’t 1: Bad habitsThe first kind of to-don’t list you should make is one of bad habits you want to avoid. This is all about goal-setting and is more of a plan you should adopt for your life overall if you want to improve it generally, not a technique to employ when you have a specific goal in mind (which the second kind of to-don't list, below, is better suited to). The habits that hold you back can be obvious to you or you may not realize some of them, but once you get started writing them down, more will come. Some suggestions are these: Don’t sleep more or less than you’re supposed to, meaning you go to bed on time and don’t hit snooze in the morning. Don’t put off answering emails. Don’t skip breaks or lunch. Don’t save all your work until right before it’s due or you need to leave work. Don’t work all day and night without setting boundaries for when you’re off. As you make your list, you’ll discover the trouble areas you’re facing. Set aside a time, say every Monday morning, to review and update your list, tracking the progress you made on not doing those things last week, removing any that you’ve overcome, and adding new trouble spots that you’ve run into. As simple as it seems, having it all written down gives you a roadmap and something concrete to focus on while you blast through the bad habits. If you are struggling to identify the broad, bad habits that might be holding you back, you need data. Writing down a few ideas every week may not be enough. In that case, try conducting after-action reviews at the end of each day, jotting down what went well, what didn't go well, and how you'd like to retool your efforts going forward. It will take a few days or weeks of data collection, but you will start to see patterns emerging, and you can take action on them. To-don’t 2: Tasks you don’t need to doA lot of productivity methods focus on what you, specifically, need to contribute to your workplace, team, or various responsibilities, but some of the best ones also leave space for you to delegate tasks to others. Saying “no” to requests or new tasks that you don’t have the capacity for or there’s no reason for you to be the one to do is a special talent we should all cultivate a little better. One way to do that is to keep a list of the tasks you aren’t touching. Consider making a list that includes things like the following so you can set clear boundaries and stick to them: Don’t pick up other people’s responsibilities on a group project. Don’t follow up with someone who is refusing to communicate. Don’t waste time on emails unlikely to get a response. Don’t schedule everyone’s work for them. Don’t agree to new elements of a project until existing tasks are handled. Keeping a real record of the things you are drawing a line in the sand about will help you actually stick to that line. It also helps to have and idea of what you’ll say if and when someone asks you to do something on your to-don’t list. Thanks to the existence of the list, you can simply say, “I appreciate you thinking of me for this, but I don’t have space for that right now in my current schedule. I’ll let you know when I’m done with the things I need to do.” Once you have your lists compiled, refer to them. Keep them somewhere you’ll see them, like next to your computer or in a note on your phone, and let the power of writing down what you’re not going to do guide you as you tackle the actual to-do list. There is another element to this kind of to-don't list, however. Yes, there are tasks you can delegate or avoid in a group setting, but there are also tasks you yourself can just disregard, whether at work or in your personal goals. To figure out what they are, you need to prioritize everything you have to do (or think you have to do). There are a few simple ways to do this: You can make an ABC list or opt for the more objective Eisenhower matrix. At the end, you'll see some tasks are neither urgent nor important. Those become your to-don'ts. In a hustle-focused, fast-paced world, it can be hard to remember that sometimes, you just don't have to do something. Banishing unnecessary tasks from your schedule can help keep you focused and productive, even if it's a hard habit to start. View the full article

LLM-driven discovery is reshaping how readers find and evaluate information, yet most teams still don’t know what actually gets cited by ChatGPT. While early theories suggest that structure, freshness, or authority signals are the primary drivers, the actual drivers have remained unclear. To bring more clarity, I audited 15 domains in September across ecommerce, cybersecurity and tech, healthcare, data analytics, education, and local business. Together, these sites generated nearly 2 million organic monthly sessions and 7,500 direct referral sessions from ChatGPT. The analysis focused on blog posts – one of the most controllable levers for non-branded visibility. By isolating generative referral traffic, the audit surfaced the on-page tactics most consistently linked to higher LLM citation rates. Here’s what I found: Answer capsules were the single strongest commonality among posts receiving ChatGPT citations. Minimal linking inside the capsule text – especially omitting internal and external links – correlated with more ChatGPT referrals. Original or “owned” data ranked as the second-strongest differentiator for cited pages. How the audit identified citation-driving traits Across this dataset, the audit tracked patterns in structural and editorial traits, including: Headline format. Presence of an answer capsule. Link density. Use of original or branded data. The traits that drove ChatGPT referral traffic proved remarkably consistent across industries. The analysis focused exclusively on blog content indexed in Google and measurable in GA4. For each of the 15 domains, all blog landing pages receiving ChatGPT referral sessions were extracted using UTM parameters, custom channel groupings, and referrer path segmentation. Each page was manually reviewed for: Answer capsule presence and format consistency. Link density inside and in the immediate section following the capsule. Original data or “owned” insight inclusion. Last updated date and other traits. By measuring these features against confirmed ChatGPT referrals, the study aimed to identify structural traits that make certain pages more “quotable” to LLMs. Dig deeper: Tracking AI search citations: Who’s winning across 11 industries Defining ‘answer capsule’ Before diving into the findings, it’s important to clarify how this analysis defines an “answer capsule.” The term is still emerging in the industry and lacks a standardized definition, so the audit used a specific working set of parameters. An answer capsule refers to a concise, self-contained explanation of roughly 120 to 150 characters (about 20 to 25 words) placed directly after a title or an H2 that is framed as a question-based query. This character range was established by averaging the snippet lengths most frequently extracted by LLMs and AI Overview modules across comparable studies. The goal was to capture a format that provides enough context for readers while remaining short enough to be parsed and cited in full by LLMs. Determining ‘original data’ and ‘owned insights’ While answer capsules were the strongest citation predictor, pages incorporating original data or branded data consistently showed higher referral depth. Original data refers to information that originates on the page itself: Unique survey findings. Performance benchmarks. The results of studies. Press releases. Proprietary metrics unavailable elsewhere. Think “Based on our 2025 industry survey of 1,200 retailers…” rather than any of the general commentary or advice. Owned insights, by contrast, may restate known information but are explicitly framed as the brand’s interpretation. These take forms such as: “Acme analytics tip 1: Segment your LTV cohorts by purchase channel.” “Acme recommendation: Prioritize capsule clarity over keyword density.” This framing converts generic advice into a branded citation hook – a linguistic tag that may reinforce authorship and expertise. And though these owned insights can be seen as a bit cheeky (taking ownership of common-sense advice), they do appear to hold some sway over which pages ChatGPT cites and directs traffic. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. How presence was evaluated When auditing each page, any qualifying instance of an answer capsule, original data, or owned insight was marked as present. If multiple examples appeared, the instance most consistent with the predefined parameters was used for classification. Although there is always some flexibility in evaluating on-page strategies like these, the criteria align with long-standing SEO conventions, which made the assessment relatively clear-cut. After evaluation, each post was coded across four binary variables to calculate relative frequencies and cross-interactions: Capsule or no capsule. Link or no link. Original data or none. Owned insight or none. Dig deeper: AI Overview citations: Why they don’t drive clicks and what to do The big picture: Answer capsules are the best avenue to get cited Across the full dataset, 72.4% of cited blog posts included an identifiable answer capsule. Over half (52.2%) featured either original data or branded-owned insight. When those traits overlapped, the pattern became even clearer: 34.3% of cited posts combined both an answer capsule and original or owned insight – the strongest-performing configuration. 38.0% included a capsule but no proprietary data, still performing significantly better than average. Just 13.2% of cited posts lacked both a capsule and any proprietary insight. The conclusion is hard to miss: of our evaluated traits, answer capsules were the single most consistent predictor of ChatGPT citation. Original and/or proprietary data amplifies the effect, but even without it, the presence of a clear, self-contained answer block dramatically increases a page’s odds of being referenced. Link density inside answer capsules: A notable drag SEO copywriting guidelines have long emphasized adding internal or external links to boost credibility and authority. But this data shows content marketing teams must be cautious about where they place internal and external links. Among the blog posts in our dataset that contained answer capsules, the overwhelming majority of these capsules were completely link-free: Link TypeShare of CapsulesNo links~91%Internal only~5.2%External only~3.5%Both internal + external<1% More than nine in ten capsules contained no links at all – a strikingly consistent pattern across industries and content types. From an LLM’s perspective, a concise, self-contained block of text without hyperlinks appears to be easier to extract and attribute. It reads as a standalone unit of knowledge rather than a navigational hub. In other words, links may dilute quotability: they imply the most authoritative answer lies on a different webpage. So, for human readers, these links are helpful. For ChatGPT, they’re hesitation marks. Dig deeper: Organizing content for AI search: A 3-level framework What this means for SEO/GEO teams Generative search has changed what it means to “rank.” But the fundamentals haven’t disappeared. Structured headings, clear formatting, and updated content still matter, but answer-centric design and authority signals now outweigh traditional keyword density or link tactics. Immediate fixes for your top content These quick adjustments can help your highest-traffic posts become more quotable to ChatGPT and other LLMs. Audit your top posts for capsules: Review your top 100 blog posts. If a clear answer capsule isn’t present, add one – ideally tied to a keyword research targeting low-difficulty, question-based queries. Inject proprietary insight where possible: Within existing capsules, weave in a unique stat, branded tip, or first-party data point. Even a small “owned” insight can dramatically boost ChatGPT citation potential. Keep capsules link-free: Our data suggests that you should place internal and external links below the capsule or in supporting paragraphs. It may be worth adjusting links in answer capsules even for older pages. Ongoing strategies for new content production Beyond quick fixes, teams should adjust their content workflows to align with how LLMs evaluate and cite information. Prepare (and train) your writers: Content teams should build blog briefs around an answer capsule “floor.” Any post that lacks one misses the most basic structural hook for ChatGPT citation. Train writers (and LLMs, if that’s how you’re producing first drafts) to craft short, high-confidence answer capsules that serve both readers and models. Infuse posts with brand insights or original data: A capsule is a great start, but if possible, consider adding a unique figure, first-party survey result, branded tip, or proprietary analysis to increase citation likelihood meaningfully. Include survey stats, benchmarks, or branded insights – anything that gives models a concrete reason to attribute the quote to you. This helps transform the post from a generic answer into an authority asset. Reconsider your linking strategies: Linking still matters. The key is placement, not absence. Keep capsules clean and self-contained, then use links in supporting paragraphs to build context and guide readers deeper. And, of course, remember every business and audience has different linking standards and UX needs, so treat this as a framework, not a rule. Prioritize clarity in the capsule and depth everywhere else. Clarity still wins Even with the recent changes, it appears the traits that once helped pages rank are now the same ones that help them get cited: clarity, structure, and authority. For now, the answer capsule stands out as a primary choice for the algorithm’s preferred citation methods, especially when it’s paired with original or owned data to amplify trust and attribution. But this means LLMs haven’t overturned SEO so much as refined it: they reward content that delivers a clear, quotable answer and backs it with genuine expertise. The SEO-standard of answer-first, insight-driven writing now wins twice – once with search engines, and again with the generative models. Dig deeper: Blogging, AI, and the SEO road ahead: Why clarity now decides who survives View the full article

Across nearly four decades as a teacher, principal, superintendent, funder, and now leader of a large education nonprofit organization, the experience that most shaped my view of learning wasn’t a grand reform or a shiny new program. It was a Friday physics lab in Brooklyn. My students predicted a graph that couldn’t exist—a vertical line for velocity and time. What followed was confusion, debate, trial, and error. And then discovery: Velocity requires both displacement and time. That brief struggle taught me, the teacher at the time, more about how learning really happens than any policy memo ever has. That moment endures because it represents what school should unlock every day: inquiry, persistence, and the joy of figuring something out yourself. Too often, students still move through school executing a “recipe” of steps without understanding ideas. In math, science, history, and English language arts, they follow the recipe and miss the point. That approach may be tidy, but it’s not transformative. It shortchanges imagination, curiosity, and the “a-ha!” moments that make knowledge durable. HOW TO EMPOWER STUDENTS I believe that learning is only powerful if it combines agency, purpose, curiosity, and connection to empower students for the future. What does that mean? It means that learners should pursue knowledge through action. Through choice. And through voice. They should have opportunities to develop authentic and meaningful contributions. They should explore new ideas and experiences to better understand their world. And they should make connections between ideas, experiences, and people. When students are allowed to experiment—to wrestle productively and recover from mistakes—they don’t just master content; they build the habits of mind that matter in life and work. TECHNOLOGY’S ROLE Emerging technologies hold enormous potential to make these kinds of experiences more common. They help curate simulations, prompt inquiry, and scaffold experimentation. It can create new entry points for students to explore, revise, and connect their ideas. The “little” moments of technology matter, too—like a 90-second BrainPOP animation that unlocks a tough concept. An interactive that prompts a classroom debate. A quick, purposeful game that turns practice into understanding. These are the sparks that turn a lesson into learning. Technology is not a recipe to follow; it’s a set of instruments to conduct. If we want learners who can think with and about AI, then classrooms must invite students to do what my Brooklyn High School physics class did: predict, test, argue from evidence, and revise. This last part can demonstrate the evolution in a student’s thinking processes and how they can move through conceptual phases of understanding. This requires commitments like access and teacher expertise, as well as ensuring quality over quantity. I’m heartened to see some schools rising to meet this challenge, like the Ypsilanti Community High School in Michigan, with its new AI Lab. The first-of-its-kind collaboration between the school district, leading tech companies, and nonprofits equips students with advanced tools for AI-powered learning. This includes processors designed to handle complex AI computations, audio-visual equipment, and 3D modeling software. The lab doesn’t simply build AI literacy; it allows students to explore ideas that matter to them using advanced technology. At once, they gain hands-on experiences in emerging fields while also fostering a sense of creativity and innovation. The lab challenges them to think critically, pushes them to be creative, and strengthens their real-world problem-solving skills. These are the kinds of experiences we need to provide for students to prepare them for an AI-driven world. LET STUDENTS LEARN THROUGH DOING As we increasingly integrate AI in classrooms, students must be allowed to experiment and explore with it, to argue from evidence, to fail, to productively struggle. When done right, we see the right kind of noise. That means classrooms buzzing with questions. It includes debates. And students make lifelong connections. I still remember that Brooklyn lab as if it were yesterday. Not because of the graph, but because of what it revealed: When students are trusted to do the intellectual heavy lifting, they surprise us—and themselves. Our job is to design schools where discovery is not an accident, but the plan. Jean-Claude Brizard is president and CEO of Digital Promise. View the full article

Google released Gemini 3, its latest AI model, and it is already powering AI Mode in Google Search today. Sundar Pichai wrote Google is shipping Gemini 3 and that includes "Gemini 3 in AI Mode in Search with more complex reasoning and new dynamic experiences." "This is the first time we are shipping Gemini in Search on day one," he added.View the full article

Scandal-hit former Treasury secretary had said he would withdraw from ‘public commitments’View the full article

Google Ads is testing a share icon and button for hotel ads in the Google search results. When you click on the share icon, it lets you share the result with a friend. View the full article

Starmer and Reeves are unfit and their likeliest usurpers are worseView the full article

Last month, we covered how we saw an "Incentivized" label on some product reviews within Google Search. Now, Google is emailing merchants and advertisers notifying them that they must properly tag incentivized reviews for Google.View the full article

When Gabriela Flax left her corporate position managing 40 people to work on her career coaching businesses solo and moved from London to Sydney, the first thing she noticed was the silence. Without the constant movement, office hum, phones, and elevator dings, she says, she could finally bask in the quiet she’d always craved. But, she quickly realized, “Oh, wow, there’s no one around me.” Flax, a career coach and founder of the newsletter Pivot School, says, “I initially named my Substack No One’s in the Kitchen. I’d get off a work call super excited [because I] signed a new client . . . go to my kitchen to make a coffee, and no one’s there . . . just my dog looking back at me.” Running a business alone can feel liberating, but it can also come with a cost: a unique type of loneliness research suggests stems from acute uncertainty, resource constraints, responsibility, and time pressures. Online, subreddits, creator cohorts, and Discord groups brim with solo founders seeking to manage loneliness. “Loneliness is a mental health emergency in many cases,” says Dr. Michael A. Freeman, a San Francisco-based psychiatrist who works exclusively with entrepreneurs. Ironically perhaps, “entrepreneurs often feel quite alone despite the fact that they have very large networks and communicate with lots of people every week,” he explains, because those are largely “transactional role relationships” and solopreneurs, particularly, “are pursuing a uniquely personal vision.” “The loneliness can come from a lack of people, but it can also come from being the only person who holds your ‘why’ so tightly,” says Flax. Identifying the ‘loneliness loop’ Particularly in a venture’s early days, solopreneurs “are living and breathing their new business,” explain researchers Ashley Evenson, lecturer of creative enterprise at Goldsmiths, University of London and Beki Gowing, lecturer in fashion enterprise at London College of Fashion, who coauthored a study on entrepreneurial loneliness and burnout. Loneliness, they say, “[can be] the catalyst for other mental health difficulties, [eroding] decision-making, creativity, and emotional resilience.” Social interactions slip, overwork rises, and a “vicious and toxic cycle” takes hold. Diane Sullivan, business professor at the University of Dayton, calls this the regulatory loop of loneliness: Some founders respond by building connections and hobbies, while others withdraw, potentially making isolation worse . In Flax’s case, she had to get creative—digital lunch invites via TikTok, long-form writing for other solo-founders—to cultivate relationships in her new role and city. In what Flax describes as an “eat what you kill” field, solopreneurs can ill-afford to let loneliness derail their purpose. Here’s how experts recommend fighting it. Seek ‘deep social’ experiences Taking the first step to get out of a loneliness rut can feel awkward, but it’s key to make the effort to engage offline, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. Juliana Schroeder, associate professor in the Management of Organizations group at Berkeley Haas, says one of the major instigators of loneliness is that people are trading “deep social” experiences for “shallow social” experiences. “Shallower social experiences are those that leverage AI connection, online engagement (particularly on social media platforms), and prioritize more superficial types of interactions,” like short text-based conversations, for example, or group conversations over one-on-ones. Other potential connections, like talking with neighbors or disagreeing counterparts (say, talking across the political divide), “are starting to disappear entirely,” she says. “I suggest setting up environments that involve regular contact with community members, having recurring ‘deep’ conversations to maintain and grow friendships, and stretching outside of your social comfort zone when any opportunity arises.” And it may not be as hard we imagine. “We find that people’s psychological intuitions about some of these interactions are miscalibrated,” she explains, and the awkwardness and depletion we anticipate is often overridden by the pleasantness of the interaction and how good both parties feel afterwards. Flax recommends seeking connection outside of work: “If you go to the gym at 3 p.m. on a Tuesday, or a coffee shop at 11 a.m. on a Thursday, not everyone in those spaces is going to be self-employed or building their own thing. But . . . chances are they might not have a [traditional] nine-to-five,” she explains. “It’s hard the first five times you [introduce yourself]. By time number six, you’re like, oh, whatever.” Quality over quantity Preempting loneliness, at least initially, may also help proactively manage it, says Freeman, who recommends, “engaging in a rich set of relationships that do not involve being a leader and ultimate decision-maker.” “One of the founders I work with belongs to a football team that is part of a regional amateur league. He has many friends on the team, which he doesn’t have to lead, and the camaraderie gives him a lot of social support,” he adds. Flax agrees, noting online cohorts, while “full of a unanimous understanding of we’re all in this together,” can lose meaningful connection when they exceed six to seven people. “Don’t just put us all in a room,” she says, adding that breakout rooms on a Zoom call, for instance, help foster one-on-one connection. Back to basics, away from the drawing board Tim Michaelis, assistant professor in the department of psychology at North Carolina State University, founded and runs an annual Health in Entrepreneurship Conference. Physical activity and sleep, he says, are two big recommendations, citing additional research that “leisure activities can provide a way to detach from entrepreneurial work and improve venture performance.” “Engaging with a local university or community college can help connect with like-minded people, feel less alone, and improve wellbeing,” he adds. “A small step could be going to watch a pitch competition or email a professor to see if they need help with a guest lecture . . . Sometimes it’s a clear win-win.” Ultimately, it’s worth remembering that loneliness does not increase just because you’re a team of one. Claude Fernet, an organizational behavior professor at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, who studies job stressors in small and medium enterprises, raises an important point. Solo founders may actually have a bit of an advantage when it comes to job stressors and loneliness. That’s because “owner-managers” (or entrepreneurs with a small team of employees) feel the additional responsibility for others’ wellbeing and salary, leading to, “the burden of shielding others from stress.” Still, he adds, “That said, the psychological toll of isolation remains a significant concern in both cases.” Flax, meanwhile, recommends thinking of loneliness in stages. “Don’t fight [it],” she says, “Because solitude is a part of building something meaningful . . . The day will come where the work you put into it is seen by others and you can create incredible community off the back of it.” View the full article

Microsoft announced a number of new Microsoft Advertising features including Asset-level editorial review, Conversion Delay insights, callouts for Hotel Price Ads expansion and Microsoft Curate updates.View the full article

Google Ads may be rolling out a new metric named "Original Conversion Value." This shows the raw data before Google does anything with it.View the full article

Business Insider interviewed both SEOs and representatives from Google, Microsoft, and Perplexity on what it calls the "GEO rush." The rush for SEO companies or other companies to sell GEO (AI SEO) related services. There are quotes from Danny Sullivan from Google, Krishna Madhavan from Microsoft and more.View the full article

Tiny fragments of microplastics—from clothes, car tires, plastics, and other sources—slip through most water filters. But at a water treatment plant on the coast in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where plastic-filled wastewater would normally flow into the ocean, new technology has captured hundreds of millions of microplastic particles over the past year. The technology, from a startup called PolyGone, can also clean microplastic out of lakes and rivers or treat wastewater at factories. The startup spun out of research at Princeton, where the founders drew inspiration from aquatic plants that can naturally attract microplastic. The plants have fibrous roots coated in a hydrophobic gel that pulls in pollution. “We managed to imitate the geometry and hydrophobility of the aquatic plant root,” says cofounder Yidian Liu. “It has a lot of unevenness on the surface that creates little cavities for smaller pollutants to be trapped inside.” Wastewater treatment plants are a pathway for microplastic pollution to enter the ocean, which is now filled with trillions of particles. Most wastewater plants in the U.S. don’t use advanced treatment before releasing water back into nature. Of those that do, most existing filters only catch larger microplastic, between 1 and 5 millimeters. Tinier fragments, invisible to the naked eye, slip through. Another type of fine mesh filter in use in some plants captures more, but then the plastic just ends up in landfills. In lab tests, PolyGone’s system captures 98% of microplastic. After the filters are full, they can be cleaned and reused. The plastic is concentrated and sent for reuse. In Atlantic City, where the company launched its first wastewater pilot in September 2024, it has already captured more than 520 million particles of microplastic, exceeding performance targets. The plastic goes to other companies: one that turns it into chemicals, another that is beginning to use it to make fuel. The utility now plans to expand the pilot into a full-scale operational system. PolyGone, which recently raised a $4 million seed round of funding, designed a new filtration unit that automatically lowers itself into water and cleans itself on a schedule. The unit fits inside a standard shipping container, with all of the tech fully assembled inside so it can be deployed in a day at a wastewater plant. The company also designed another version of the technology that fits into wastewater pipes at factories. The first pilot of that system just launched at an industrial plant in Dubai. “This system is a very simple way for them to plug and play and get rid of microplastic before the water goes into their effluent,” says Liu. Other manufacturers are also beginning to test the technology, including clothing companies working to cut microplastic pollution from synthetic fabric. Cost varies depending on the system, but ranges from roughly $15,000 to $50,000. The technology is much less expensive than other advanced filtration, in part because the filter works passively to “dramatically reduce energy consumption compared to traditional advanced filtration systems that rely on high-pressure pumps,” Liu says. The open design avoids clogging, so it needs less maintenance. It also can easily be added to existing infrastructure, she says, rather than requiring expensive retrofits. The tech can also be used directly in nature, and the company has tested a Roomba-like robot that filters water as it moves across a lake. But funding is harder to secure for this approach. There’s more demand for industrial use, especially from brands that are trying to tackle sustainability goals. And at wastewater treatment plants, some states may soon consider new regulations that would require better pollution filtering. “California is leading on microplastic regulation,” says Liu. The state already requires microplastic testing in drinking water and is working on a new drinking water standard, though wastewater filtering isn’t mandated yet. “A huge reason is they don’t know what methodologies or systems are available for [wastewater plants] to quickly adopt for microplastic removal,” Liu says. “Our pilot is actually giving them a very good case study to understand okay, it is a problem that can be solved.” View the full article

Affiliate marketing drives billions in sales – and billions more in hidden losses. Brand bidding, ad hijacking, coupon abuse, and more subtle forms of affiliate fraud can quietly drain ROI and distort attribution. For performance leaders, the question isn’t if this happens, but how much you’re already losing. This article breaks down the most common types of affiliate marketing fraud and shows how modern monitoring tools like Bluepear help brands protect growth, reputation, and spend through smarter affiliate fraud detection strategies. Why affiliate programs are under threat Not all affiliate programs are created equal – and neither are their incentives. In SaaS especially, affiliate commissions can reach 20% to 70%, making the channel both profitable and highly attractive to fraudsters. The higher the reward, the stronger the temptation to bend the rules. Affiliate program fraud relies on trust gaps – brands expect partners to follow program guidelines, and partners expect fair tracking and attribution. But when incentives are high and oversight is low, blind spots appear, and that’s exactly where affiliate fraud thrives. Scammers exploit these gaps by bidding on brand terms, hijacking ads, or using expired coupon codes to claim unearned commissions. It’s no surprise that 63% of affiliate marketers cite affiliate program fraud as one of their biggest challenges – ranking even above algorithm changes or partner support issues. So can you guess what the real problem is? Yes, most of this affiliate marketing fraud happens out of sight. Affiliates run campaigns, ads, and landing pages that brands rarely monitor in real time. Without automated affiliate fraud detection, you might keep paying commissions on traffic you already own – or worse, fund those who impersonate your brand – without realizing it until the damage is done. Inside the fraud playbook Affiliate fraud tactics evolve fast – often faster than most programs can react. Below are the schemes that drain budgets and skew performance data the most, along with ways to recognize them early and shut them down using proper affiliate fraud prevention measures. 1. Brand bidding You’ve seen it before – someone’s bidding on your brand name in search. Users who were already looking for your product click an affiliate ad instead. You pay a commission for a sale you would’ve closed anyway, your CPC on brand terms spikes, and your premium positioning gets diluted by promo-heavy copy using your name. It’s one of the simplest forms of affiliate fraud – and one of the hardest to spot without the right visibility. How to respond: Add a full list of brand and close-variant keywords to your affiliate T&Cs. Watch for unexplained spikes in specific affiliate performance. Check branded search results regularly to see who’s actually running those ads – and document what you find. How to check it with Bluepear: Create a monitoring project and add your brand terms (e.g. brand, brand + coupon), target countries, and device types. Start monitoring – within about an hour, you’ll see the first ad data and evidence of potential non-compliance. Review the report, tag violations, and take action – from pausing the affiliate to sending a Cease & Desist notice. 2. Ad hijacking Ad hijacking happens when an affiliate copies your paid search ads, pretending to be your brand. Their lookalike ads push your legitimate campaigns out of the top spot, intercept the clicks, and redirect users through their tracking links. From your dashboard, it just looks like a drop in clicks or conversions – but in reality, you’re paying commissions on traffic you already paid to acquire. It’s one of the most damaging forms of affiliate fraud because it steals both spend and visibility. How to spot it: Watch for sudden dips in clicks or impressions in your branded search campaigns. Run test searches from different devices or locations – if the ad copy looks identical to yours but the URL isn’t, that’s a red flag. Keep evidence (screenshots or redirect paths) to take quick action with your network or affiliate. How to check it with Bluepear: Add your branded keywords and target countries to start monitoring. Bluepear automatically flags any affiliates running look-alike ads under the HIJACKER tag. Use the redirect data – especially the full click path – to identify the source and remove or block the affiliate before they drain more spend. 3. Coupon abuse Coupon affiliates don’t always look like fraudsters – but many of them quietly divert your branded traffic and take credit for sales you already earned. Here’s how it happens: your brand works with a large affiliate network that, in turn, lets coupon publishers join as sub-affiliates. Those sites then rank at the top of Google for queries like “[brand] + coupon” and insert tracking links back to your store. To you, it looks like legitimate affiliate activity – until you start checking branded search results and find coupon sites sitting above your own domain. By then, you’ve already paid commissions on non-incremental sales and lost visibility into who’s actually driving that traffic. How to respond: Make it explicit in your T&Cs that coupon and sub-affiliate traffic must be pre-approved. Work only with networks that disclose their sub-affiliates and traffic sources. Run branded keyword checks regularly to catch coupon publishers before they dominate search results. How to check it with Bluepear: Add branded queries such as “brand + code/promo/coupon/voucher” to your monitoring project. Bluepear detects coupon publishers in search results and tags them automatically under COUPON. Use the redirect chain and screenshots as proof to remove the source affiliate or escalate through your network. 4. Non-compliant content Some of the most damaging affiliate violations hide in plain sight – or rather, behind it. Affiliates can show your compliance team one version of a page, while real users see something completely different: misleading offers, off-brand claims, or fake “official” comparisons. This tactic is called cloaking – and it’s one of the main reasons why non-compliant content often goes undetected for months. Even if those pages drive clicks, they quietly undermine your brand voice and mislead customers, turning what appears to be legitimate traffic into a reputational risk. How to respond: Set strict creative and messaging rules for affiliates. Require pre-approval for sensitive or comparative claims. Treat content audits as an ongoing process – not a one-time review. How to check it with Bluepear: Add partner website URLs and trigger words (like “official”, “discount”, “#1”) to your monitoring project. Bluepear uses decloaking technology to uncover what users really see – not just what affiliates want you to see. Review screenshots, redirect paths, and violation tags, then take action with a Cease & Desist notice or removal. Building a smarter defense Affiliate fraud isn’t a single event – it’s a moving target. Protecting your program in 2026 means combining clear rules, continuous visibility, and technology that scales with you. Keeping that spend protected has become a financial and operational priority. 1. Start with clear rules, not assumptions Your affiliate terms are your first line of defense – and most programs underestimate their power. Be explicit about what’s allowed and what isn’t. Ban brand bidding, require full disclosure of sub-affiliates, and demand transparent landing pages. List penalties for violations and follow through consistently. When the rules are clear, enforcement becomes simple – and defensible. 2. Treat affiliates like performance partners, not traffic sources Strong programs are built on relationships, not reach. Don’t approve affiliates just because they promise volume – understand how they drive it. Ask about traffic sources, conversion mechanics, and alignment with your ICP. If someone guarantees “instant conversions” but won’t show their methods, treat it as a warning sign, not an opportunity. 3. Visibility is your best protection Fraud doesn’t announce itself – it hides in data gaps. Run test searches from different devices, locations, and hours of the day. Watch for anomalies in click-to-conversion times or branded traffic spikes. The sooner you see irregularities, the faster you can protect your budget – and your reputation. 4. Automate what you can’t scale Manual checks don’t scale, but automation does. Platforms like Bluepear simulate real user behavior across geographies and devices to uncover hidden ads, decloak affiliate landing pages, trace redirect chains, and compile full evidence packs – screenshots, keywords, affiliate IDs. Teams can tailor projects by brand and region, monitor as frequently as needed, and manage violations from a single dashboard – without adding operational overhead. 5. Make transparency part of your culture Fraud prevention works best when it identifies honest partners, not just pursues violators. Share verified data with compliant affiliates and celebrate clean traffic. When partners know transparency is valued, the honest ones become your strongest allies in keeping the channel clean. Looking ahead Fraud tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and most teams don’t realize the extent of their budget losses until they take a closer look. Protecting growth today means knowing what’s really happening inside your affiliate program: across every keyword, every click, every landing page. When you can see it all, it’s easier to maintain clean spending, fix attribution, and build stronger partnerships that actually drive performance. That’s what we built Bluepear for: to give brands clarity, not another dashboard. You can start monitoring in minutes, see what your affiliates are really doing, detect violations before they cost you money, and safeguard both ROI and brand reputation. The first 7 days are free – start monitoring today and make sure your spend works as it should. View the full article