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If Experian eventually charges for VantageScore 4.0, it will be offered for at least a 50% discount compared to what Fair Isaac Corp. charges for its FICO score. View the full article

WordPress WPBakery plugin vulnerability enables attackers to upload and execute malicious scripts The post WPBakery WordPress Vulnerability Lets Attackers Inject Malicious Code appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Dd you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. On the second Tuesday of each month, Microsoft issues a major security update for Windows users, known as "Patch Tuesday." Some patches are larger than others; it all depends on how many vulnerabilities researchers discovered over the past month. October's Patch Tuesday update, however, is quite large. As reported by Bleeping Computer, this latest Patch Tuesday update fixes over 170 security flaws with Windows. That includes 80 elevation of privilege vulnerabilities, 31 remote code execution vulnerabilities, 28 information disclosure vulnerabilities, 11 security feature bypass vulnerabilities, 11 denial of service vulnerabilities, and 10 spoofing vulnerabilities. Bleeping Computer only includes the patches released by Microsoft itself in its totals for Patch Tuesday numbers. The total number is higher, as there are patches for Azure, Mariner, and vulnerabilities released earlier in October. All in, there are well over 200 patches here. While all security patches are important, some are more critical than others. To that point, this Patch Tuesday includes fixes for eight vulnerabilities labeled as "Critical"—that includes five remote code execution vulnerabilities, and three elevation of privilege vulnerabilities. Six zero-daysBut even more important than that are the patches for six zero-day vulnerabilities. Zero-days are particularly dangerous, as there are vulnerabilities that are either publicly disclosed or exploited before the software developer has a chance to issue a patch. In this case, there are six zero-days, three publicly disclosed, and three exploited without this current patch, leaving Windows users vulnerable. These are the three exploited vulnerabilities: CVE-2025-24990: Windows Agere Modem Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability: This flaw allowed bad actors to gain administrative privileges via a bad Agere Modem driver. Microsoft has now removed the driver. CVE-2025-59230: Windows Remote Access Connection Manager Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability: This flaw allowed bad actors to gain SYSTEM privileges. CVE-2025-47827: MITRE CVE-2025-47827: Secure Boot bypass in IGEL OS before 11: This flaw allowed bad actors to bypass Secure Boot, a security process that helps prevent malware from loading when a user's computer starts up. These are the three publicly disclosed vulnerabilities: CVE-2025-0033 - AMD CVE-2025-0033: RMP Corruption During SNP Initialization: This AMD flaw could impact memory integrity. Microsoft says this fix is not finished yet, and the patches will roll out through Azure Service Health Alerts when they're ready. CVE-2025-24052 - Windows Agere Modem Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability: This flaw can be used to gain administrative privileges via a Agere Modem Driver. As Bleeping Computer notes, it appears quite similar to CVE-2025-24990. CVE-2025-2884 - Cert CC: CVE-2025-2884 Out-of-Bounds read vulnerability in TCG TPM2.0 reference implementation: This flaw could have allowed for information disclosure or denial of service of the target’s TPM. In other Microsoft news, the company has officially ended support for Windows 10. Unless you enroll in Extended Security Updates, your Windows 10 PC will not receive these security patches going forward. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. As far as action cameras go, GoPro might be a household name, but there are still some high-quality (and often more affordable) competitors that appeal to both casual adventurers and power users. One of them, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro (Essential Combo), is a #1 bestseller on Amazon, and is currently 21% off, marking its lowest price ever at $269. DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro (Essential Combo) $269.00 at Amazon $339.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Get Deal $269.00 at Amazon $339.00 Save $70.00 This action cam is a tough, waterproof camera (up to 65.6 feet) that you can mount practically anywhere. It has a 10-bit 4K120 video, and at 5.2 ounces, it’s lightweight yet powerful, with dual touch displays and multiple field-of-view options, including an ultra-wide setting without distortion. It also records vertical video, with creative tools like time-lapse, slow motion, and a tracking mode that keeps subjects centered. Its digital stabilization system, RockSteady, keeps things smooth, and while it may slightly narrow the lens’s view, the extra-wide 155-degree angle still allows for immersive coverage. Compared to its predecessor, it has a new image sensor with bigger pixels, a more efficient processor, touch-sensitive OLED panels on both displays, and a bigger battery. According to PCMag, which awarded it an "Outstanding" rating, its battery life blows other action cameras out of the water. Its 1,950mAh battery uses a 4nm architecture for its image processor. While it claims to provide up to four hours of continuous shooting, the PCMag tester found that it lasts 26 minutes at 4K60, 154 minutes at 4K30, and 182 minutes at 1080p30 without overheating, whereas the GoPro Hero13 only ran for around half an hour before overheating and provided just 80 minutes at 4K30. While the app features and lens options may not be as strong or varied as GoPro’s, if you’re looking for an action camera with best-in-class battery life, strong digital stabilization, and the ability to record continuously without overheating, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro (Essential Combo) is a long-lasting powerhouse that rivals contenders like the Hero13. And at a sub-$300 price point, it’s well worth it. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $197.00 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge 256GB Unlocked AI Phone (Titanium JetBlack) — $819.99 (List Price $1,099.99) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $319.00 (List Price $349.00) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Battery Doorbell Plus — $149.99 (List Price $149.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen, 2-pack, White) — $79.99 (List Price $99.98) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen, 2023) — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Shark AV2501S AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with HEPA Self-Empty Base — $359.89 (List Price $549.99) Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Chancellor weighs up halving annual tax-free savings allowance to encourage wider investment in UK stock marketView the full article

Billionaire investor Frank McCourt, former owner and chairman of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dodger Stadium, says he is investigating the legality of the The President administration’s deal that would see TikTok purchased by a coalition that reportedly includes Oracle, Silver Lake and the Saudi-owned MGX. In an interview with CNN’s Terms of Service podcast, McCourt stopped short of saying he would challenge the deal in court or attempt to join the ownership group. But the information that has been publicly released so far is insufficient and doesn’t address whether the national security concerns with TikTok have been addressed, he said. The status of the sale of TikTok in the U.S. remains in limbo as China and the U.S. continue jockeying over trade issues and rare-earth materials. “I’ve asked and engaged some really smart people to analyze (the deal) the best they can, with the information available, because there are still missing pieces with what this all means,” McCourt told CNN. Project Liberty, a non-profit initiative that seeks to transform how the internet works, teamed with several private equity funds, “Shark Tank” judge Kevin O’Leary, Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian and others to, submit a bid to buy TikTok in the weeks before Donald The President took office. That offer proposed buying TikTok without its algorithm, which China had been unwilling to allow to be sold previously. The Project Liberty offer, which called itself the People’s Bid for TikTok, valued TikTok’s American operations (without the algorithm) at $20 billion – $6 billion more than the deal brokered by the White House. The group said it planned to restructure the social media company to collect less data on users and would use a new algorithm created by the Project Liberty nonprofit instead. The White House’s proposed deal did not address which companies or investors would make up the coalition that would own and operate the U.S. version of TikTok. And there was no justification or explanation for the $14-billion valuation (ByteDance has an estimated value of $330 billion – so the low figure for TikTok’s U.S. operations left investors confused). It’s also still unknown if the U.S. will take a revenue stream from the new company, though The President said the U.S. “comes out great” in the deal. Perhaps most importantly, though, is where China stands on things. The President has said Chinese President Xi Jinping gave the White House deal the go ahead. Yet no representatives of ByteDance attended the signing ceremony for the executive order. And China’s government has not commented about the deal since the EO was signed. McCourt, to be clear, isn’t objecting to the White House deal at this point, but says it’s “too early to say” what next steps he’ll take in response to it. One area of interest to him, though, is the privacy guards that will be put into place. “Big tech platforms are scraping and accumulating our data, hyper, micro-profiling us, and now they’re not just selling us ads, but they’re manipulating us,” he said. “Our data is our personhood in a digital age … We should share what we want to share about ourselves.” If TikTok is out of his reach, McCourt says he still has plans for the Project Liberty technology that he had hoped would run the site. He plans to transform it into an AI agent that controls when and how a user’s personal information is shared as they explore the Web and interact with other AI systems. View the full article

Hiring a brand strategy agency can transform your marketing efforts in several ways. You gain access to specialized expertise that boosts your campaigns, as well as enjoying cost-effective solutions that avoid the need for in-house teams. These agencies bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that keep you aligned with market trends. With advanced tools, they improve your campaign effectiveness. Comprehending these benefits can lead to better brand consistency and measurable results, making it worth considering how this could impact your business. Key Takeaways Access to specialized skills and expertise ensures creative and precise execution of branding campaigns tailored to market dynamics. Cost-effective solutions arise from outsourcing, eliminating the expenses of hiring full-time in-house teams. Fresh perspectives from diverse teams encourage innovative strategies that align with current market trends. Utilization of advanced tools and technologies enhances campaign effectiveness through real-time analytics and personalized interactions. Improved brand consistency fosters trust and recognition, ultimately driving engagement and revenue growth. Access to Expertise and Specialized Skills When you hire a brand strategy agency, you gain access to a wealth of expertise and specialized skills that can greatly improve your branding efforts. These agencies employ professionals with extensive experience across various marketing disciplines, ensuring that your campaigns are executed with precision and creativity. By leveraging the latest industry trends and techniques, a branding digital marketing agency can provide you with innovative strategies customized to current market dynamics. Their diverse team can address all your branding needs, from content creation to social media management. Furthermore, agencies utilize advanced analytics and market research tools, delivering data-driven insights that help optimize your branding efforts and boost your visibility and engagement in the marketplace. Cost-Effective Solutions Hiring a brand strategy agency offers a cost-effective solution for businesses looking to improve their branding efforts without the financial strain of an in-house team. By outsourcing, you avoid expenses like salaries, benefits, and training for multiple full-time employees. Agencies typically charge a flat project fee or monthly retainer, ranging from $1,000 to $12,000, which is far less than the average annual salary of a Marketing Associate in Houston. This flexibility allows you to allocate your budget more efficiently, focusing on specific projects rather than fixed costs. Furthermore, agencies provide an extensive suite of services at a fraction of the cost of hiring specialists for each function, maximizing your investment in branding and saving on recruitment costs. Fresh Perspectives and Innovative Ideas Bringing in a brand strategy agency can offer you fresh perspectives that reignite your branding efforts. These agencies can uncover new opportunities and prevent blind spots your in-house team might miss. Here’s how they can assist: Innovative Ideas: They introduce strategies that align with current market trends. Creative Collaboration: Diverse teams brainstorm unique approaches, enhancing your brand messaging. Data-Driven Insights: Agencies utilize analytics to adapt to consumer behavior effectively. Challenging the Status Quo: Outside perspectives encourage you to rethink strategies and explore new growth areas. Advanced Tools and Technologies Incorporating advanced tools and technologies can greatly improve your brand strategy, making it more effective and competitive. Branding agencies utilize state-of-the-art marketing platforms to improve design, analytics, and campaign execution. By leveraging advanced data analytics software, they track and measure campaign performance in real-time, offering you actionable insights for informed decision-making. Furthermore, agencies often use sophisticated automation tools, optimizing marketing campaigns for personalized customer interactions that boost engagement rates. With the latest design technologies, they create visually appealing branding materials that resonate with your target audience, improving overall brand visibility. Scalable Services for Growing Needs As your business grows, adapting your branding strategy becomes essential to stay competitive, and a brand strategy agency can provide the flexibility you need. These agencies offer scalable services that can adjust to your evolving needs. Here’s how they can help you: Quickly scale resources for marketing campaigns during peak times or product launches. Repurpose existing branding assets for new initiatives, maximizing efficiency. Leverage a diverse team of specialists for customized solutions that align with your growth objectives. Remain responsive to market dynamics without the lengthy hiring or training processes. With these capabilities, you can improve your branding efforts and guarantee your business stays competitive in a fast-paced environment. Improved Brand Consistency Across Channels When you hire a brand strategy agency, you guarantee that your messaging remains unified across all platforms, which builds stronger trust with your audience. A cohesive brand identity not just improves recognition but likewise reinforces your core values, making it easier for customers to connect with you. This consistency in branding can differentiate you from competitors and in the end contribute to your business’s growth. Unified Brand Messaging A brand strategy agency plays an important role in creating unified brand messaging, which is essential for improving brand consistency across various channels. When your messaging aligns, you not only improve recognition but also build trust among consumers. Here are key benefits to evaluate: Consistent branding can boost revenue by 23%, as familiarity drives engagement. Cohesive visual elements and tone cultivate customer loyalty by establishing reliability. A unified message improves marketing effectiveness, leading to higher conversion rates. Expect a 10-20% improvement in customer retention, as recognizable brands create stronger connections. Strengthened Audience Trust Strengthening audience trust hinges on maintaining improved brand consistency across all channels. When you deliver consistent messaging, 90% of consumers expect a cohesive experience, which builds trust. A unified brand identity, with consistent visuals and messaging, can boost brand recognition by up to 80%, promoting loyalty. Brands that communicate consistently are three to four times more likely to achieve visibility and retain customers. Furthermore, 70% of consumers prefer engaging with brands that showcase a clear and consistent identity, directly linking this to improved trust. Conversely, inconsistency can alienate your audience—60% of consumers have disengaged from brands because of mixed messaging. Data-Driven Strategies and Measurable Results When you work with a brand strategy agency, you’ll benefit from performance tracking techniques that provide clear insights into your marketing efforts. These agencies utilize advanced analytics to measure key metrics, ensuring your decisions are based on solid data rather than guesswork. Performance Tracking Techniques Tracking performance effectively is crucial for any brand strategy, as it allows you to gauge the success of your marketing efforts. Employing data-driven strategies helps you monitor key performance metrics, ensuring your campaigns are effective. Here are some techniques you can utilize: Engagement Rates: Measure how audiences interact with your content. Conversion Rates: Track the percentage of visitors who complete desired actions. Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): Calculate the revenue generated for every dollar spent on advertising. Real-Time Adjustments: Use advanced analytics tools to make timely changes based on performance data. These techniques not only improve accountability but also empower you to make informed decisions, refine strategies, and eventually drive better results for your brand. Analytical Insights Utilization Utilizing analytical insights is essential for any brand strategy, as these data-driven approaches enable you to make informed decisions that can greatly improve your marketing effectiveness. Brand strategy agencies use advanced analytical tools to track campaign performance in real-time, allowing for immediate adjustments. By focusing on metrics like engagement and conversion rates, they provide measurable results that show your return on investment. Continuous analysis helps in crafting customized strategies, boosting engagement and loyalty. Detailed reports outline key performance indicators, ensuring transparency and accountability. Below is a summary of how analytical insights are utilized: Analytical Insights Benefits Key Metrics Real-time Performance Immediate campaign adjustments Engagement rates Customized Strategies Higher audience resonance Conversion rates Transparency and Accountability Comprehending impact Key Performance Indicators Metrics-Driven Decision Making Data-driven strategies are essential for effective brand management, as they empower you to make informed decisions based on concrete evidence rather than intuition alone. Working with a brand strategy agency gives you access to sophisticated analytics tools that track campaign performance. This allows you to focus on key performance metrics, ensuring your marketing goals align. Here are four key benefits: Real-time adaptability: Agencies can adjust campaigns based on immediate feedback. Enhanced targeting: Analytics lead to more effective messaging and audience engagement. Increased accountability: You can see measurable results that demonstrate ROI. Greater trust: Transparency in data nurtures stronger client-agency relationships. Frequently Asked Questions Why Do You Need a Brand Strategy? You need a brand strategy since it defines your identity and values, setting you apart in a crowded market. It helps establish consistency in your messaging, which builds trust with your audience. A clear strategy can improve customer loyalty and drive revenue growth. What Does a Branding Agency Provide? A branding agency provides various crucial services to improve your brand’s identity. They develop cohesive brand strategies that guarantee consistent messaging across all platforms. By employing a diverse team of specialists, they tailor strategies to align with your specific goals. Agencies additionally utilize advanced tools to measure the effectiveness of campaigns, making data-driven adjustments. This approach not just saves you time and resources but furthermore helps in maintaining a strong market presence. When to Hire an Advertising Agency? You should consider hiring an advertising agency when your internal team lacks the expertise or time to execute effective marketing campaigns. If you’re facing stagnant growth, an agency can bring fresh ideas. When launching a new product or entering a new market, their targeted strategies can maximize your reach. Moreover, if tight deadlines and heavy workloads are overwhelming your team, an agency can efficiently manage campaigns, allowing you to focus on core business activities. Which of the Following Are Benefits of Working in a Marketing Agency Role? Working in a marketing agency offers several key benefits. You gain access to a diverse team of professionals, enhancing your creativity and strategic thinking. The structured workflows improve project management, allowing campaigns to be executed efficiently. You’ll likewise utilize the latest marketing tools, helping you track performance effectively. Furthermore, the collaborative environment nurtures innovation, as you tackle varied projects. Finally, flexible work settings enable you to adapt quickly to changing demands in the market. Conclusion In summary, hiring a brand strategy agency can greatly improve your marketing efforts. You’ll gain access to specialized expertise, cost-effective solutions, and fresh ideas that align with current market trends. Furthermore, these agencies provide advanced tools, scalable services, and improved brand consistency. By utilizing data-driven strategies, you can achieve measurable results that boost engagement and conversion rates. Consider these benefits when deciding whether to partner with a brand strategy agency for your business needs. Image Via Envato This article, "7 Key Benefits of Hiring a Brand Strategy Agency" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Hiring a brand strategy agency can transform your marketing efforts in several ways. You gain access to specialized expertise that boosts your campaigns, as well as enjoying cost-effective solutions that avoid the need for in-house teams. These agencies bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that keep you aligned with market trends. With advanced tools, they improve your campaign effectiveness. Comprehending these benefits can lead to better brand consistency and measurable results, making it worth considering how this could impact your business. Key Takeaways Access to specialized skills and expertise ensures creative and precise execution of branding campaigns tailored to market dynamics. Cost-effective solutions arise from outsourcing, eliminating the expenses of hiring full-time in-house teams. Fresh perspectives from diverse teams encourage innovative strategies that align with current market trends. Utilization of advanced tools and technologies enhances campaign effectiveness through real-time analytics and personalized interactions. Improved brand consistency fosters trust and recognition, ultimately driving engagement and revenue growth. Access to Expertise and Specialized Skills When you hire a brand strategy agency, you gain access to a wealth of expertise and specialized skills that can greatly improve your branding efforts. These agencies employ professionals with extensive experience across various marketing disciplines, ensuring that your campaigns are executed with precision and creativity. By leveraging the latest industry trends and techniques, a branding digital marketing agency can provide you with innovative strategies customized to current market dynamics. Their diverse team can address all your branding needs, from content creation to social media management. Furthermore, agencies utilize advanced analytics and market research tools, delivering data-driven insights that help optimize your branding efforts and boost your visibility and engagement in the marketplace. Cost-Effective Solutions Hiring a brand strategy agency offers a cost-effective solution for businesses looking to improve their branding efforts without the financial strain of an in-house team. By outsourcing, you avoid expenses like salaries, benefits, and training for multiple full-time employees. Agencies typically charge a flat project fee or monthly retainer, ranging from $1,000 to $12,000, which is far less than the average annual salary of a Marketing Associate in Houston. This flexibility allows you to allocate your budget more efficiently, focusing on specific projects rather than fixed costs. Furthermore, agencies provide an extensive suite of services at a fraction of the cost of hiring specialists for each function, maximizing your investment in branding and saving on recruitment costs. Fresh Perspectives and Innovative Ideas Bringing in a brand strategy agency can offer you fresh perspectives that reignite your branding efforts. These agencies can uncover new opportunities and prevent blind spots your in-house team might miss. Here’s how they can assist: Innovative Ideas: They introduce strategies that align with current market trends. Creative Collaboration: Diverse teams brainstorm unique approaches, enhancing your brand messaging. Data-Driven Insights: Agencies utilize analytics to adapt to consumer behavior effectively. Challenging the Status Quo: Outside perspectives encourage you to rethink strategies and explore new growth areas. Advanced Tools and Technologies Incorporating advanced tools and technologies can greatly improve your brand strategy, making it more effective and competitive. Branding agencies utilize state-of-the-art marketing platforms to improve design, analytics, and campaign execution. By leveraging advanced data analytics software, they track and measure campaign performance in real-time, offering you actionable insights for informed decision-making. Furthermore, agencies often use sophisticated automation tools, optimizing marketing campaigns for personalized customer interactions that boost engagement rates. With the latest design technologies, they create visually appealing branding materials that resonate with your target audience, improving overall brand visibility. Scalable Services for Growing Needs As your business grows, adapting your branding strategy becomes essential to stay competitive, and a brand strategy agency can provide the flexibility you need. These agencies offer scalable services that can adjust to your evolving needs. Here’s how they can help you: Quickly scale resources for marketing campaigns during peak times or product launches. Repurpose existing branding assets for new initiatives, maximizing efficiency. Leverage a diverse team of specialists for customized solutions that align with your growth objectives. Remain responsive to market dynamics without the lengthy hiring or training processes. With these capabilities, you can improve your branding efforts and guarantee your business stays competitive in a fast-paced environment. Improved Brand Consistency Across Channels When you hire a brand strategy agency, you guarantee that your messaging remains unified across all platforms, which builds stronger trust with your audience. A cohesive brand identity not just improves recognition but likewise reinforces your core values, making it easier for customers to connect with you. This consistency in branding can differentiate you from competitors and in the end contribute to your business’s growth. Unified Brand Messaging A brand strategy agency plays an important role in creating unified brand messaging, which is essential for improving brand consistency across various channels. When your messaging aligns, you not only improve recognition but also build trust among consumers. Here are key benefits to evaluate: Consistent branding can boost revenue by 23%, as familiarity drives engagement. Cohesive visual elements and tone cultivate customer loyalty by establishing reliability. A unified message improves marketing effectiveness, leading to higher conversion rates. Expect a 10-20% improvement in customer retention, as recognizable brands create stronger connections. Strengthened Audience Trust Strengthening audience trust hinges on maintaining improved brand consistency across all channels. When you deliver consistent messaging, 90% of consumers expect a cohesive experience, which builds trust. A unified brand identity, with consistent visuals and messaging, can boost brand recognition by up to 80%, promoting loyalty. Brands that communicate consistently are three to four times more likely to achieve visibility and retain customers. Furthermore, 70% of consumers prefer engaging with brands that showcase a clear and consistent identity, directly linking this to improved trust. Conversely, inconsistency can alienate your audience—60% of consumers have disengaged from brands because of mixed messaging. Data-Driven Strategies and Measurable Results When you work with a brand strategy agency, you’ll benefit from performance tracking techniques that provide clear insights into your marketing efforts. These agencies utilize advanced analytics to measure key metrics, ensuring your decisions are based on solid data rather than guesswork. Performance Tracking Techniques Tracking performance effectively is crucial for any brand strategy, as it allows you to gauge the success of your marketing efforts. Employing data-driven strategies helps you monitor key performance metrics, ensuring your campaigns are effective. Here are some techniques you can utilize: Engagement Rates: Measure how audiences interact with your content. Conversion Rates: Track the percentage of visitors who complete desired actions. Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): Calculate the revenue generated for every dollar spent on advertising. Real-Time Adjustments: Use advanced analytics tools to make timely changes based on performance data. These techniques not only improve accountability but also empower you to make informed decisions, refine strategies, and eventually drive better results for your brand. Analytical Insights Utilization Utilizing analytical insights is essential for any brand strategy, as these data-driven approaches enable you to make informed decisions that can greatly improve your marketing effectiveness. Brand strategy agencies use advanced analytical tools to track campaign performance in real-time, allowing for immediate adjustments. By focusing on metrics like engagement and conversion rates, they provide measurable results that show your return on investment. Continuous analysis helps in crafting customized strategies, boosting engagement and loyalty. Detailed reports outline key performance indicators, ensuring transparency and accountability. Below is a summary of how analytical insights are utilized: Analytical Insights Benefits Key Metrics Real-time Performance Immediate campaign adjustments Engagement rates Customized Strategies Higher audience resonance Conversion rates Transparency and Accountability Comprehending impact Key Performance Indicators Metrics-Driven Decision Making Data-driven strategies are essential for effective brand management, as they empower you to make informed decisions based on concrete evidence rather than intuition alone. Working with a brand strategy agency gives you access to sophisticated analytics tools that track campaign performance. This allows you to focus on key performance metrics, ensuring your marketing goals align. Here are four key benefits: Real-time adaptability: Agencies can adjust campaigns based on immediate feedback. Enhanced targeting: Analytics lead to more effective messaging and audience engagement. Increased accountability: You can see measurable results that demonstrate ROI. Greater trust: Transparency in data nurtures stronger client-agency relationships. Frequently Asked Questions Why Do You Need a Brand Strategy? You need a brand strategy since it defines your identity and values, setting you apart in a crowded market. It helps establish consistency in your messaging, which builds trust with your audience. A clear strategy can improve customer loyalty and drive revenue growth. What Does a Branding Agency Provide? A branding agency provides various crucial services to improve your brand’s identity. They develop cohesive brand strategies that guarantee consistent messaging across all platforms. By employing a diverse team of specialists, they tailor strategies to align with your specific goals. Agencies additionally utilize advanced tools to measure the effectiveness of campaigns, making data-driven adjustments. This approach not just saves you time and resources but furthermore helps in maintaining a strong market presence. When to Hire an Advertising Agency? You should consider hiring an advertising agency when your internal team lacks the expertise or time to execute effective marketing campaigns. If you’re facing stagnant growth, an agency can bring fresh ideas. When launching a new product or entering a new market, their targeted strategies can maximize your reach. Moreover, if tight deadlines and heavy workloads are overwhelming your team, an agency can efficiently manage campaigns, allowing you to focus on core business activities. Which of the Following Are Benefits of Working in a Marketing Agency Role? Working in a marketing agency offers several key benefits. You gain access to a diverse team of professionals, enhancing your creativity and strategic thinking. The structured workflows improve project management, allowing campaigns to be executed efficiently. You’ll likewise utilize the latest marketing tools, helping you track performance effectively. Furthermore, the collaborative environment nurtures innovation, as you tackle varied projects. Finally, flexible work settings enable you to adapt quickly to changing demands in the market. Conclusion In summary, hiring a brand strategy agency can greatly improve your marketing efforts. You’ll gain access to specialized expertise, cost-effective solutions, and fresh ideas that align with current market trends. Furthermore, these agencies provide advanced tools, scalable services, and improved brand consistency. By utilizing data-driven strategies, you can achieve measurable results that boost engagement and conversion rates. Consider these benefits when deciding whether to partner with a brand strategy agency for your business needs. Image Via Envato This article, "7 Key Benefits of Hiring a Brand Strategy Agency" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. If you have a Premium Family plan through Spotify, there's good news: You can now set up managed accounts for your kids. Not only can you control what they listen to, their music choices won't reflect in or affect your listening history. Congratulations: You're getting your Wrapped back. On Tuesday, Spotify announced it is rolling out managed accounts for Premium subscribers to seven new regions: the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Premium Family subscribers in these countries can now create managed accounts for users younger than 13 that allow those users to listen on their own, in a controlled environment. Managed accounts are music-only, so younger listeners can't browse Spotify's other offerings, such as podcasts, or send or receive DMs. In addition, account managers can control a number of settings on these accounts, including whether the account can listen to explicit music, choose to block specific artists and songs, and decide to hide video—including short-form Canvas content. While Spotify has an existing service designed for children, Spotify Kids, it's much different, as it only contains music hand-picked for the service, and doesn't allow subscribers to control the account. Managed accounts allow subscribers to give a full Spotify experience to their kids, while having total control over what they can listen to. Personally, I think this is a fantastic feature. As someone who grew up in the early days of iTunes, I would have loved the ability to add whatever songs I wanted to my playlists—assuming my parents gave those songs the OK, of course. It's also great that kids can get recommendations for new music from Spotify. If they are obsessed with the latest trending song, perhaps Spotify can recommend similar tunes, both contemporary tracks as well as classics. It could be a great way to expand kids' music tastes. Spotify first tested managed accounts in 10 other countries: New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Columbia. It's now available as part of its Premium Family plan, which costs $19.99 per month. How to create a managed accountIf you're using the Spotify mobile app, head to Settings and privacy > Account > Premium Family. If you're on your account page on Spotify's website, choose "Manage members." Either way, under Plan members, choose to add members to your plan. Choose "Add a listener aged under 13," then choose "Add account." You'll then follow the on-screen steps to confirm you are the parent or guardian of the listener; set a PIN to control the experience; choose the name and birthdate of the listener; and choose your settings. View the full article

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's credit risk-transfers and some older private-label mortgage-backed securities have exposures to the Washington DC area. View the full article

Lebda, who died over the weekend in an ATV accident, built one of the first online financial marketplaces in 1998. View the full article

Creating an annual work plan is one of the most effective ways to align your team around organizational goals. By setting a clear path for the year, you provide structure and direction while helping teams prioritize initiatives. An annual work plan serves as both a roadmap and a reference point, making sure efforts are focused where they matter most and resources are used efficiently to maximize impact. Whether you are leading a nonprofit, managing a corporate department or running a government program, the process of making an annual work plan gives you clarity on objectives and outcomes. It also provides transparency for stakeholders who want to see measurable progress. When done well, this type of plan transforms lofty strategic goals into concrete actions, ensuring accountability and consistent evaluation throughout the year. /wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Annual-work-plan-template-featured-image.jpg Get your free Annual Work Plan Template Use this free Annual Work Plan Template for Word to manage your projects better. Download Word File What Is an Annual Work Plan? An annual work plan is a structured document that outlines the key goals, initiatives and resources required to achieve success within a year. It includes objectives, timelines, roles and performance measures, giving leaders and teams a roadmap for execution. Unlike strategic plans that span several years, an annual work plan breaks strategy into actionable pieces and connects daily activities with broader organizational priorities. Project management software is an ideal tool for creating an annual work plan because it centralizes planning, scheduling and tracking in one place. With features like task assignment, resource allocation and reporting, software makes it easier to map dependencies, monitor progress and share updates with stakeholders. This reduces confusion, improves collaboration and helps ensure teams are aligned throughout the year. ProjectManager is the best software for building and managing an annual work plan, thanks to its Gantt charts that provide a detailed visual of timelines and dependencies. Our dashboards track progress in real time. Teams can also use kanban boards, calendars or list views depending on their preference, ensuring flexibility and visibility. Resource management tools, workload charts, timesheets and reporting functions make it easier to control budgets, balance capacity and measure performance against KPIs. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gantt-CTA-2025.jpgLearn more Who Should Use an Annual Work Plan? An annual work plan is beneficial for a wide range of organizations. It ensures clarity, provides accountability and supports data-driven decision-making. Whether your focus is social impact, public services or business outcomes, having a clear annual plan is the foundation for long-term success. Here’s how different sectors can use annual work plans effectively: Nonprofits & NGOs For nonprofits and NGOs, an annual work plan helps balance limited resources while maximizing impact. By outlining objectives, defining projects and setting measurable outcomes, these organizations can demonstrate accountability to donors and stakeholders. A well-structured annual work plan also makes grant reporting easier and keeps teams aligned on fundraising, outreach and program delivery, ensuring that each initiative contributes directly to mission-driven goals. Government Agencies Government agencies use annual work plans to manage programs, allocate funding and deliver services to the public. These plans establish clear goals, define timelines and assign roles across departments to ensure effective coordination. An annual work plan also supports compliance with regulatory requirements while improving transparency and accountability. By breaking down strategic objectives into yearly targets, agencies can monitor progress, assess performance and maintain public trust by demonstrating measurable outcomes throughout the year. Corporate Sector In the corporate sector, annual work plans align teams with broader business strategies. By identifying key initiatives, setting timelines and defining responsibilities, organizations can track progress against revenue goals, market expansions or product launches. These plans also serve as communication tools, making expectations clear across departments. Annual work plans ensure resource allocation is strategic, performance is measured effectively and leadership can make informed adjustments, ultimately driving productivity, innovation and growth within highly competitive industries. Related: 9 Work Templates for Excel and Word What Should Be Included In an Annual Work Plan? An effective annual work plan includes several core components that connect strategy to action. These elements help organizations translate big-picture goals into measurable outcomes, ensuring clarity and accountability throughout the year. Here are the essential components: Objectives and Outcomes Objectives and outcomes define what the organization wants to achieve and how success will be measured. They serve as the foundation for the entire annual work plan, ensuring activities are aligned with long-term goals. Clear objectives help set direction, while measurable outcomes create benchmarks for evaluation. Together, they provide both vision and accountability, enabling leaders and teams to stay focused and track whether the organization is moving closer to its mission. Key Projects or Initiatives This section of the annual work plan highlights the most important projects, programs or initiatives your team will focus on throughout the year. Each project should include a brief description, objectives, timelines and expected outcomes. Clearly identifying key projects helps prioritize resources, align efforts with organizational goals and track progress over time. For each initiative, outline the responsible team or individual, milestones and critical dependencies. This ensures accountability and makes it easier to identify potential risks or bottlenecks early. Including key projects or initiatives in your annual work plan provides a roadmap for success and ensures that everyone understands which efforts are most strategic and impactful. Resource Requirements Resource requirements outline what is needed to execute the plan successfully. This includes staffing, budget, equipment, technology and partnerships required to achieve goals. Defining these needs in advance helps organizations allocate resources strategically and avoid bottlenecks. A well-detailed resource plan also improves financial management, ensuring costs are tracked against available funding. By listing and clarifying all resource requirements, an annual work plan increases efficiency, accountability and transparency across the organization as projects move forward. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/assign-people-resource-allocation-light-mode-gantt-chart-workload-assignments-600x295.pngLearn more Timelines and Milestones Timelines and milestones establish the schedule for executing an annual work plan. They define when tasks should be completed and mark key checkpoints to measure progress. Milestones act as performance indicators, showing whether projects are on track. Including timelines helps prevent delays, ensures accountability and provides a structure for managing workloads. Together, timelines and milestones keep teams aligned and help leadership assess whether initiatives are advancing as expected throughout the year. /wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ProjectManager-Gantt-Chart-Milestones-600x360.pngLearn more Key Roles and Responsibilities Key roles and responsibilities define who is accountable for each part of the plan. By assigning ownership, organizations ensure that no task is overlooked and accountability is clear. Including roles in the annual work plan also prevents duplication of effort and improves collaboration among teams. Clear responsibilities promote efficiency, ensure expectations are understood and give leadership a way to track performance. This structure makes project execution smoother and results more reliable across the organization. Key Performance Indicators and Measurement Methods Key performance indicators and measurement methods define how progress will be tracked and evaluated. KPIs provide measurable benchmarks that indicate success, while measurement methods outline the tools or processes used to gather data. Including KPIs in an annual work plan ensures accountability and supports evidence-based decision-making. This data-driven approach helps organizations demonstrate impact, optimize resource allocation and adjust strategies when necessary, ensuring initiatives remain effective and aligned with broader organizational goals. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Dashboard-light-mode-600x321.jpgLearn more Annual Work Plan Template Download this free annual work plan template for Word to give teams a ready-to-use structure for planning objectives, projects, timelines and resources in a familiar format. Because it’s built in Word, there’s no learning curve—anyone can download the template, fill in the sections and customize it to their organization’s specific goals. It makes managing projects easier by organizing details such as initiatives, resource requirements and performance indicators into tables or structured outlines that are easy to edit and share. Click on the image below to download the template. /wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Annual-Work-Plan-Template-Screenshot-an-Excerpt-600x758.png The template also works well for collaboration, since Word files can be circulated by email or uploaded to shared drives for group input. Nonprofits, government agencies and businesses can use the free annual work plan template for Word to ensure their teams are aligned around the year’s priorities. By offering a simple but comprehensive framework, it helps managers save time, avoid starting from scratch and focus more on execution and results. Annual Work Plan Example To illustrate how to put all of these elements together, here’s a sample annual work plan. This example shows how objectives, initiatives, resources, timelines, responsibilities and measurement methods can be documented clearly. Using a structured approach like this helps organizations maintain accountability and transparency while keeping everyone aligned with priorities. The tables below provide a snapshot of how to format and organize your own annual work plan so that goals are both actionable and measurable. Objectives and Outcomes For 2025, the leadership team at Horizon Solutions set three clear objectives to strengthen the company’s position. Retaining existing customers became a top priority after renewal rates slipped to 70% last year. At the same time, employee engagement needed attention, with morale surveys revealing room for growth. Finally, executives pushed for market expansion, targeting two new regional offices to capture untapped demand. These objectives balance internal culture with external growth, giving the company measurable benchmarks to rally around throughout the year. Objective Desired Outcome Measurement Method Target Date Increase customer retention Renewal rate rises from 70% to 80% Monthly churn analysis December 2025 Improve employee engagement Employee satisfaction survey score ≥ 85% Annual engagement survey Q4 2025 Expand into new market Open 2 new regional offices Business expansion report Q3 2025 Key Projects or Initiatives To move these objectives forward, Horizon Solutions launched three cornerstone initiatives. A digital marketing campaign was designed to capture new leads and support regional growth plans. Meanwhile, IT prepared an ERP system upgrade, a long-delayed project critical to streamlining operations as customer demand scales. To strengthen leadership capacity, HR rolled out a year-long training program for mid-level managers. Each initiative was tied to clear ownership, realistic timelines and measurable impacts to ensure momentum didn’t stall once execution began. Initiative Description Owner Timeline Expected Impact Digital marketing campaign Multi-channel ads to drive leads Marketing Director Jan–Jun 2025 +15% in qualified leads ERP system upgrade Migrate to cloud-based ERP IT Manager Feb–Aug 2025 Streamlined operations Leadership training Training for mid-level managers HR Lead Mar–Dec 2025 Stronger management pipeline Resource Requirements Delivering on these initiatives required significant investment in people and tools. Customer support staffing was expanded to cover service in the new regions. Marketing secured a $150,000 budget to fuel the digital campaign, while IT equipped new hires with laptops and CRM licenses. HR sought an external training vendor to deliver leadership programs at scale. By laying out these needs in advance, Horizon Solutions avoided the typical mid-year scramble for resources and ensured every team had what it needed to succeed. Resource Category Specific Needs Quantity/Amount Notes Staffing Additional customer support reps 5 To cover new regions Budget Marketing spend $150,000 Allocated across digital channels Equipment Laptops for new hires 10 Standard issue devices Technology CRM licenses 50 Expansion of existing plan Partnerships Training vendor 1 Contract to be signed in Q1 Related: 20 Best Resource Management Software of 2025 (Free & Paid) Timelines and Milestones The work plan anchored each initiative with specific checkpoints to maintain accountability. The marketing campaign was scheduled to launch by March, setting the pace for lead generation in the first half of the year. The ERP system’s pilot was targeted for May, a critical milestone to avoid delays in full deployment. By July, the first leadership training cohort was expected to finish. Finally, the expansion team aimed to secure office leases by September, laying the foundation for entering new markets. Initiative Key Milestone Deadline Status Marketing campaign Campaign launch Mar 2025 Planned ERP upgrade Pilot implementation complete May 2025 Pending Leadership training First cohort completed Jul 2025 Pending Market expansion Regional office lease signed Sep 2025 Not started Key Roles and Responsibilities Ownership was distributed across departments to align expertise with delivery. The Project Manager reported to the CIO while steering the ERP upgrade, ensuring technical oversight. The Marketing Director, accountable to the VP of Marketing, managed the digital campaign and its results. HR’s Lead coordinated training sessions under the CHRO’s guidance. Finance monitored spending against the annual plan, providing monthly updates to the CFO. This clear delegation of responsibilities gave the executive team confidence that execution was being actively managed. Role Responsibility Deliverable Reporting To Project Manager Oversee ERP upgrade Implementation plan CIO Marketing Director Execute digital campaign Campaign results report VP Marketing HR Lead Deliver training program Training completion reports CHRO Finance Analyst Monitor budget spend Monthly financial reports CFO Key Performance Indicators and Measurement Methods Horizon Solutions tracked progress through a defined set of KPIs. Customer retention was monitored monthly through churn reports, targeting an 80% renewal rate by year-end. Employee engagement was measured annually to push satisfaction scores above 85%. Quarterly expansion reports confirmed progress toward opening two new offices. Marketing added a performance KPI, aiming for a 15% increase in qualified leads. These KPIs provided not just numbers, but the story of whether the strategy was converting into results. KPI Measurement Method Target Frequency Customer retention rate Monthly churn analysis 80% renewal rate Monthly Employee engagement Annual engagement survey ≥ 85% satisfaction Annually Market expansion Business expansion report 2 new offices opened Quarterly Marketing performance Lead conversion tracking +15% qualified leads Monthly Free Related Templates These free templates help you streamline planning and management across different time frames and team structures. Use them to set clear goals, align resources and track progress efficiently. 5-Year Plan Template Download this free template to map long-term objectives and milestones. It helps organizations and individuals visualize growth strategies and plan resource allocation over a five-year horizon. Staffing Plan Template Use this free template to organize team structures and plan hiring needs. It makes it easy to track roles, responsibilities and workforce requirements for projects or departments. 30-60-90 Day Plan Template This free template is designed for onboarding or short-term project planning. It breaks goals into 30, 60 and 90-day segments to ensure clear priorities and measurable progress. How ProjectManager Helps Manage an Annual Work Plan ProjectManager helps organizations efficiently manage their annual work plans by providing a centralized platform to organize all objectives, initiatives and deadlines. With its intuitive interface, teams can break down high-level goals into actionable tasks, assign responsibilities, and set clear timelines. Multiple project views allow everyone to work how they want, know their role in achieving the yearly objectives and track progress in real time, preventing delays and miscommunication. Optimize Resource Management ProjectManager’s resource management tools make it easy to allocate and balance workloads across teams. Managers can see who is available, assign tasks efficiently, and prevent overallocation with color-coded workload charts. There’s also a team page to get a live view of their progress and even update their tasks without leaving the page. By visualizing resource usage, teams can adjust schedules and priorities proactively, ensuring that projects remain on track without overburdening staff. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Team-Light-2554x1372-1.png Track Progress with Dashboards and Reports The platform provides comprehensive tracking through interactive dashboards, detailed and customizable AI-powered reports, plus secure timesheets that can also monitor labor costs. Teams can monitor task completion, project milestones and budget usage at a glance. Automated reports powered by ChatGPT keep leadership informed, while timesheets allow accurate tracking of hours and labor expenses, making it easier to measure productivity and maintain accountability throughout the year. /wp-content/uploads/2025/10/AI-Insights-Light-Mode-Dashboard-GPT5.png Related Content An annual work plan is one of many different ways to manage tasks over time. For readers interested in learning more about other tools that can help them meet deliverables and deliver quality outputs, check out the links below. There are examples of other kinds of work plans, how to create a tactical plan for your business and much more. 5 Work Plan Examples You Can Learn From Creating a Tactical Plan for Your Business A Quick Guide to Strategic Initiatives How to Create a Strategic Roadmap for Your Organization Strategic Planning in Business ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams, whether they’re in the office or out in the field. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post How to Make an Annual Work Plan (Example Included) appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. Researchers have demonstrated a new type of malware attack that can steal sensitive information from Android devices—including Google and Samsung phones—without the knowledge or action of the target user. The attack is called "Pixnapping," an apparent portmanteau of "pixel" and "snapping." When you download and open a piece of software containing the malware, the app scans your phone for specific apps it might want to spy on. It then accesses another app on your phone—say, Google Authenticator—but rather than open it, it pulls the information that would be displayed into the Android rendering pipeline. From there, the app scans the display information for individual pixels, targeting areas known to contain sensitive information. In the case of Google Authenticator, the focus is on the pixels known to contain the 2FA codes within the app. The malware then checks to see whether a pixel is blank, or contains some type of rendered content. It uses these findings to recover the original images, like a complete 2FA code, without ever actually having seen the original images in the first place. This process can repeat for as long as it takes to scan the stolen pixels and pull the original information from them, all without you knowing it's happening. Researchers compare the process to taking screenshots of screen contents the malware should not have access to. How the malware worksThere are three reasons Pixnapping attacks are possible on Android, according to researchers. First, the OS allows apps to send another app's activity to the Android rendering pipeline, which allows the malicious app to invoke sensitive activities, like refreshing 2FA codes. Second, apps can run graphical operations on pixels displayed through another app's activity, which is how the malicious app can pull pixels from something like Google Authenticator. Third, apps can measure the pixel color-dependent side effects of those operations, which allows the malicious app to leak the pixel values. Researchers demonstrated these Pixnapping attacks on Google and Samsung phones, including the Pixel 6, Pixel 7, Pixel 8, Pixel 9, and Galaxy S25. These phones were running Android 13, 14, 15, and 16. Researchers say they aren't sure if other types of Android devices are affected by this attack, though the "core mechanisms" involved are usually present in all Android devices. Different Pixel devices had different rates of success in the 2FA hack (73%, 53%, 29%, and 53% for the Pixel 6, 7, 8, and 9, respectively), though researchers could not obtain 2FA codes on the Galaxy S25 within the 30 second timeline before the codes refreshed. In addition to devices, researchers demonstrated Pixnapping attacks on sites and services like Gmail, Google Accounts, Signal, Google Authenticator, Venmo, and Google Maps. The implication is that this type of attack could steal many different types of information from your phone, including emails, encrypted messages, payment records, and location histories. According to the findings, Google has tried to patch Pixnapping, but researchers were able to workaround this patch in demonstrated attacks. The vulnerability is currently tracked as CVE-2025-48561. Google is working on a new patch for the December Android security builtin. How to protect yourself from PixnappingThe good news, at this time anyway, is that researchers are not aware of Pixnapping attacks happening in the wild. However, that doesn't mean they won't happen, especially now that the attack has been disclosed. The first thing to do to protect yourself is to make sure you're running the latest security patches on your Android device. While Google is still working on a subsequent Pixnapping patch, there is a patch in existence. Make sure you install it on your phone by heading to System > Software updates. Next, be cautious with the apps you download on your device. Always try to download apps from trusted and verified marketplaces, as it's much more difficult for bad actors to hide malware on apps distributed through these stores. Even when you download apps on something like the Google Play Store, investigate the app thoroughly: Ensure it's really the app you think it is, and it's coming from the developer that makes it. If you sideload apps, be careful with what you download, and only install apps from developers you trust. View the full article

In terms of conducting an inventory audit, having an extensive checklist is essential for accuracy and efficiency. You need to start by ensuring your inventory records align with actual stock levels, then implement effective counting procedures using tools like barcode scanners. Classifying and prioritizing your inventory based on value is equally important, along with performing a thorough cost analysis. Finally, integrating technology can streamline the entire auditing process. How can you improve your current practices? Key Takeaways Regularly schedule physical inventory counts to identify and rectify discrepancies in stock levels. Utilize barcode scanners to enhance counting efficiency and accuracy during the audit process. Classify inventory items into A, B, and C categories to prioritize high-value items during counts. Establish cut-off procedures to maintain accurate inventory records during the counting process. Implement inventory management software for real-time tracking and automated reporting of audit findings. Accurate Inventory Records Accurate inventory records serve as the backbone of effective inventory management, allowing businesses to identify discrepancies between actual stock levels and accounting records. By maintaining precise records, you can prevent losses from theft, damage, or obsolescence. This practice is vital for informing demand forecasting and product planning, helping you manage stock levels efficiently and avoid overstocking or stockouts. Regular audits of your inventory contribute to determining the safety stock needed to prevent shortages, which eventually improves customer satisfaction. Moreover, accurate documentation is fundamental for compliance, particularly for public companies required to classify inventory accurately as a current asset. Incorporating an inventory audit checklist and following established audit procedures for inventory can greatly improve your record-keeping accuracy and overall management effectiveness. Effective Count Procedures Maintaining precise inventory records is only part of the equation; effective count procedures are just as important for ensuring inventory accuracy. Conduct regular physical inventory counts to identify discrepancies, as these can lead to financial misstatements. Using barcode scanners during your inventory count audit will improve efficiency and accuracy, drastically reducing manual counting errors. Implement cycle counting to assess a small subset of inventory regularly, ensuring ongoing accuracy without disrupting operations. Organizing inventory into clearly labeled sections streamlines the counting process and minimizes confusion. Moreover, establish a cut-off inventory procedure to halt all receiving and shipping activities during counts, preventing any transactions from affecting the accuracy of your physical inventory count. Inventory Classification and Prioritization When classifying inventory, it’s essential to categorize items into A, B, and C groups based on their value, allowing for more focused auditing efforts. A items represent 20% of stock but contribute to 80% of revenue, making them a priority during your inventory audit. By implementing ABC analysis, you can streamline your physical inventory count checklist and improve overall efficiency. Focus on high-value A items to minimize discrepancies. Schedule regular cycle counts for valuable and fast-moving products. Allocate resources effectively during audits based on item importance. Improve demand forecasting through accurate classification. Encourage better inventory management by prioritizing critical stock. This systematic approach not only aids in auditing but also optimizes your supply chain operations. Cost Analysis and Review Conducting a thorough cost analysis and review is essential for grasping the financial health of your inventory management. It involves several audit steps for inventory, including a freight cost review to assess shipping expenses and identify inefficiencies that can impact profitability. You should calculate finished goods costing by accurately determining the costs related to materials, labor, and overhead, ensuring your financial statements reflect true inventory values. Furthermore, performing an overhead cost analysis allows you to allocate indirect expenses, such as rent and utilities, to inventory items. This comprehension helps in establishing accurate pricing and reducing unnecessary costs. Technology Integration for Efficiency Integrating technology into your inventory management processes can greatly improve efficiency and accuracy. By adopting advanced tools, you can boost inventory confirmation and streamline your physical stock count checklist. Consider implementing these technologies: Inventory Management Software: Track stock levels in real-time, reducing discrepancies. Barcode Scanners: Minimize counting errors during audits for faster results. RFID Technology: Automate tracking, allowing simultaneous scanning of multiple items. Point-of-Sale Integration: Guarantee sales data is immediately reflected in inventory records, preventing phantom inventory. Digital Checklists: Automate audit processes, generating instant reports for clearer inventory status. Frequently Asked Questions How Do You Audit Inventory? To audit inventory, start by creating a detailed checklist outlining necessary documents and procedures. Conduct a physical count, comparing actual stock levels with your inventory management system. Use ABC analysis to prioritize high-value items, ensuring accuracy where it matters most. Implement cut-off procedures to halt transactions during the audit, preventing errors. Finally, analyze results to identify discrepancies and trends, helping you improve inventory management and optimize stock levels for better efficiency. How to Do an Inventory Checklist? To create an effective inventory checklist, start by listing all items in your inventory, including quantities and locations. Organize items using an ABC analysis to prioritize high-value stock. Schedule regular audits, ensuring minimal disruption during peak periods. Include necessary documents, like balance sheets and invoices, to support the process. Finally, conduct a physical count, comparing it against your records, and investigate any discrepancies to maintain accuracy and efficiency in your inventory management. What Are the 7 Steps in the Audit Process? The audit process involves seven key steps. First, plan your audit schedule based on store size and traffic patterns. Next, choose appropriate audit methods, like full counts or cycle counts. Then, conduct the physical inventory count without moving items. After counting, record your results and reconcile any discrepancies. Finally, analyze the findings to identify trends and make necessary adjustments. This structured approach guarantees accuracy and improves your overall inventory management effectiveness. What Is the Checklist for Conducting an Audit? To conduct an audit, start by creating a detailed schedule. Prepare necessary documents, such as balance sheets and invoices, and assess your inventory to guarantee items are accessible. Select appropriate audit procedures, like physical counts or cycle counts, based on your needs. Conduct the physical count carefully, reconciling records with your inventory management system. Finally, document results thoroughly and address any discrepancies found to improve future inventory management practices. Conclusion By incorporating these five crucial items into your inventory audit checklist, you’ll improve accuracy and efficiency in your operations. Regularly verifying inventory records guarantees you maintain precise stock levels, as effective count procedures, like cycle counting and barcode scanning, streamline your efforts. Classifying and prioritizing inventory based on value helps focus resources effectively, and conducting a thorough cost analysis reveals financial implications. Finally, leveraging technology, such as inventory management software, can greatly improve the auditing process. Image Via Envato This article, "5 Essential Items for Your Inventory Audit Checklist" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In terms of conducting an inventory audit, having an extensive checklist is essential for accuracy and efficiency. You need to start by ensuring your inventory records align with actual stock levels, then implement effective counting procedures using tools like barcode scanners. Classifying and prioritizing your inventory based on value is equally important, along with performing a thorough cost analysis. Finally, integrating technology can streamline the entire auditing process. How can you improve your current practices? Key Takeaways Regularly schedule physical inventory counts to identify and rectify discrepancies in stock levels. Utilize barcode scanners to enhance counting efficiency and accuracy during the audit process. Classify inventory items into A, B, and C categories to prioritize high-value items during counts. Establish cut-off procedures to maintain accurate inventory records during the counting process. Implement inventory management software for real-time tracking and automated reporting of audit findings. Accurate Inventory Records Accurate inventory records serve as the backbone of effective inventory management, allowing businesses to identify discrepancies between actual stock levels and accounting records. By maintaining precise records, you can prevent losses from theft, damage, or obsolescence. This practice is vital for informing demand forecasting and product planning, helping you manage stock levels efficiently and avoid overstocking or stockouts. Regular audits of your inventory contribute to determining the safety stock needed to prevent shortages, which eventually improves customer satisfaction. Moreover, accurate documentation is fundamental for compliance, particularly for public companies required to classify inventory accurately as a current asset. Incorporating an inventory audit checklist and following established audit procedures for inventory can greatly improve your record-keeping accuracy and overall management effectiveness. Effective Count Procedures Maintaining precise inventory records is only part of the equation; effective count procedures are just as important for ensuring inventory accuracy. Conduct regular physical inventory counts to identify discrepancies, as these can lead to financial misstatements. Using barcode scanners during your inventory count audit will improve efficiency and accuracy, drastically reducing manual counting errors. Implement cycle counting to assess a small subset of inventory regularly, ensuring ongoing accuracy without disrupting operations. Organizing inventory into clearly labeled sections streamlines the counting process and minimizes confusion. Moreover, establish a cut-off inventory procedure to halt all receiving and shipping activities during counts, preventing any transactions from affecting the accuracy of your physical inventory count. Inventory Classification and Prioritization When classifying inventory, it’s essential to categorize items into A, B, and C groups based on their value, allowing for more focused auditing efforts. A items represent 20% of stock but contribute to 80% of revenue, making them a priority during your inventory audit. By implementing ABC analysis, you can streamline your physical inventory count checklist and improve overall efficiency. Focus on high-value A items to minimize discrepancies. Schedule regular cycle counts for valuable and fast-moving products. Allocate resources effectively during audits based on item importance. Improve demand forecasting through accurate classification. Encourage better inventory management by prioritizing critical stock. This systematic approach not only aids in auditing but also optimizes your supply chain operations. Cost Analysis and Review Conducting a thorough cost analysis and review is essential for grasping the financial health of your inventory management. It involves several audit steps for inventory, including a freight cost review to assess shipping expenses and identify inefficiencies that can impact profitability. You should calculate finished goods costing by accurately determining the costs related to materials, labor, and overhead, ensuring your financial statements reflect true inventory values. Furthermore, performing an overhead cost analysis allows you to allocate indirect expenses, such as rent and utilities, to inventory items. This comprehension helps in establishing accurate pricing and reducing unnecessary costs. Technology Integration for Efficiency Integrating technology into your inventory management processes can greatly improve efficiency and accuracy. By adopting advanced tools, you can boost inventory confirmation and streamline your physical stock count checklist. Consider implementing these technologies: Inventory Management Software: Track stock levels in real-time, reducing discrepancies. Barcode Scanners: Minimize counting errors during audits for faster results. RFID Technology: Automate tracking, allowing simultaneous scanning of multiple items. Point-of-Sale Integration: Guarantee sales data is immediately reflected in inventory records, preventing phantom inventory. Digital Checklists: Automate audit processes, generating instant reports for clearer inventory status. Frequently Asked Questions How Do You Audit Inventory? To audit inventory, start by creating a detailed checklist outlining necessary documents and procedures. Conduct a physical count, comparing actual stock levels with your inventory management system. Use ABC analysis to prioritize high-value items, ensuring accuracy where it matters most. Implement cut-off procedures to halt transactions during the audit, preventing errors. Finally, analyze results to identify discrepancies and trends, helping you improve inventory management and optimize stock levels for better efficiency. How to Do an Inventory Checklist? To create an effective inventory checklist, start by listing all items in your inventory, including quantities and locations. Organize items using an ABC analysis to prioritize high-value stock. Schedule regular audits, ensuring minimal disruption during peak periods. Include necessary documents, like balance sheets and invoices, to support the process. Finally, conduct a physical count, comparing it against your records, and investigate any discrepancies to maintain accuracy and efficiency in your inventory management. What Are the 7 Steps in the Audit Process? The audit process involves seven key steps. First, plan your audit schedule based on store size and traffic patterns. Next, choose appropriate audit methods, like full counts or cycle counts. Then, conduct the physical inventory count without moving items. After counting, record your results and reconcile any discrepancies. Finally, analyze the findings to identify trends and make necessary adjustments. This structured approach guarantees accuracy and improves your overall inventory management effectiveness. What Is the Checklist for Conducting an Audit? To conduct an audit, start by creating a detailed schedule. Prepare necessary documents, such as balance sheets and invoices, and assess your inventory to guarantee items are accessible. Select appropriate audit procedures, like physical counts or cycle counts, based on your needs. Conduct the physical count carefully, reconciling records with your inventory management system. Finally, document results thoroughly and address any discrepancies found to improve future inventory management practices. Conclusion By incorporating these five crucial items into your inventory audit checklist, you’ll improve accuracy and efficiency in your operations. Regularly verifying inventory records guarantees you maintain precise stock levels, as effective count procedures, like cycle counting and barcode scanning, streamline your efforts. Classifying and prioritizing inventory based on value helps focus resources effectively, and conducting a thorough cost analysis reveals financial implications. Finally, leveraging technology, such as inventory management software, can greatly improve the auditing process. Image Via Envato This article, "5 Essential Items for Your Inventory Audit Checklist" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Resolution Foundation estimates output per hour worked rose 1.6% over past yearView the full article

In a sign of the times, Boy Scouts can now earn badges in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity as they learn tech survival skills. The Boy Scouts of America, which rebranded as Scouting America after 115 years back in February, counts about 1 million scouts in its ranks, and has traditionally offered badges to encourage kids to learn outdoor survival skills like first aid, hiking, and cooking, or soft skills like public speaking, communication, and citizenship in the world. (Here’s a look at all the 141 badges.) “The artificial intelligence (AI) merit badge introduces Scouts to the fundamentals of AI and automation through hands-on activities and real-world examples . . . used in daily life, school, and work, and examine ethical concerns like bias and privacy,” according to the Scouting America website. To earn the new badges, scouts learn key AI concepts (machine learning, narrow AI, superintelligent AI, tasks, triggers, workflows, and variables), investigate deepfakes, and practice how to communicate effectively with AI. The badges are designed to interact with the Scoutly chat bot. Fast Company has reached out to Scouting America for further details. Like many older organizations, Scouting America is hoping to stay relevant in a world where today’s younger generations are increasingly digitally savvy and dependent on technology—and the new badges are the organization’s way of doing so, CNN reported. It’s also a way for Scouting America to retain younger members at a time when the organization is losing them. It now has about half of its 2018 membership of 2 million—down from 5 million in 1972, according to the Associated Press. But what the group has lost in membership, it has gained in inclusivity and diversity. Today, the organization includes more than 176,000 girls and teens, after allowing girls to join in 2018, and gay members in 2013. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. A four-pack of these TSA-approved travel locks is currently on sale for $79.99 on StackSocial, the same price as a three-pack on Amazon. It’s designed for Apple users, integrating directly with the Find My app, so you can track your bags on a map, ping them with sound if they’re nearby, or get alerts if you’ve walked off and left them behind. Each lock uses a simple three-digit combination and is TSA-approved, meaning airport security can access it without cutting it open. The build is solid, featuring a durable alloy shell and a thick cable loop that's tough enough for typical travel abuse. It’s also refreshingly low-maintenance, with no need for constant charging. The built-in battery lasts approximately three months and is replaceable, so you’re not forced to discard the entire device when it runs out of power. You don’t need to install a separate app to manage the tracking, either. If you’ve used Apple’s Find My for AirTags or devices, the setup will feel familiar and straightforward. You also get solid tracking features like Lost Mode and sound alerts. That said, this is Apple-only. If you use Android, the Find My functionality won’t work, so you're better off with a traditional smart tracker or lock. If you're traveling with multiple bags or coordinating group travel, a four-in-one pack makes the price more manageable. For frequent flyers or anyone with a track record of forgetting their carry-on at Gate 17, this is one of those travel add-ons that is actually worth it. View the full article

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged skepticism around the central banks large-scale asset purchases during the pandemic, noting the Fed likely "should have stopped" sooner, but fell short of admitting that the purchase of MBS' contributed to housing disparities. View the full article

You’ve just lost your job. It hard. It’s really, really hard. There’s the initial shock, rage or panic—but then it’s time to immediately hop on the endless merry-go-round of excruciating applications, unresponsive recruiters, pleading LinkedIn DMs, and occasional existential crises. You can quickly feel hopeless, all alone, adrift, angry, and at wit’s end. That’s where we come in. Fast Company—the go-to authority on career development, workplace innovation, and business news—is debuting Between Jobs: a brand new pop-up newsletter, written for folks freshly out of work and on Day 1 of navigating their new normal. Want to hire a ghostwriter for your LinkedIn profile, but not sure where to start? Is your new cash flow triggering a panic attack? Tempted to go on a tweetstorm about your old boss and need to be talked down? We’re here to help. Between Jobs is your indispensable unemployment resource, as well as a constant, knowledgeable companion to stand beside you on every step of the journey, from filing for unemployment to negotiating an offer. Each issue is chockfull of deep reporting, bite-sized action items, and step-by-step instructions on what to do next. From professors to therapists, and HR pros to CEOs—Between Jobs fills your inbox with expert insight to make the job search work for you. (And to end it as soon as possible.) Here’s what you’ll get: Week 1: Digesting the shock, forming a plan Week 2: Resumes: How to revamp, optimize, and dazzle Week 3: Leveraging LinkedIn: the best strategies Week 4: Fortifying your finances Week 5: Safeguarding your sanity Week 6: Tools of the trade: Gig-landing apps, services, and hacks Week 7: Networking: as important as (and easier than) you think Week 8: The home stretch: landing the gig And more . . . View the full article

Researchers are only just beginning to piece together the complex ways that technology affects young minds, but a new study raises some serious concerns. A paper published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, better known as JAMA, explored the relationship between social media use and cognitive performance in kids starting at age 9. The new research drew on data collected from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, a massive, long-term study on adolescent health and brain development being conducted in the U.S. The ABCD study is currently following almost 12,000 children from age 9 to 10 as they age, with a particular focus on how things like sports, video games, technology, and other common childhood experiences shape health and behavior outcomes over the years. Opting to focus on social media use instead of passive screen time, the newly published research examined how different levels of social media use affected cognitive performance, measured by a standard battery of attention, memory and critical thinking tests. “… Unlike passive screen time, social media use typically involves interactive, personalized, and cognitively demanding activities, yet there is a paucity of studies that have analyzed the associations between distinct longitudinal social media usage patterns and multiple domains of cognitive functioning,” the authors wrote. The team analyzed data from more than 6,000 children, ultimately sorting them into three different groups based on their social media habits: a no or very low social media use group, a group that started with low use and began using social media for around an hour each day, and a group that started with high levels of social media use that ramped up to around three hours a day over time. The no or low social media use group was by far the largest, including 58% of the children in the study. The group that didn’t use social media much at first but used it more over time represented 37% of the children, while the high use group was only 6% of the children in the study. The study looked at the participants’ cognitive test scores at age 9 or 10 and then again two years later, using no or low social media use group as a reference group to compare against the two groups of kids who used social media more frequently. The researchers found that kids in both groups with higher social media use consistently scored lower on cognitive tests measuring oral reading skills, short-term memory and listening comprehension. While kids who used social media more scored lower across the board when compared to the no to low social media use group, the group of kids who used social media the most performed the worst out of all three groups. Those results are both alarming and a little bit hopeful. Keeping kids away from social media altogether isn’t necessarily an option for most parents, but putting limits on the amount of time they spend could mitigate the negative impact of social apps. “Previous literature has hypothesized that social media use replacing more educational activities or schoolwork may explain the association between social media use and lower cognitive performance,” the authors wrote. “The specific associations between increasing social media use and poorer performance on the [Oral Reading Recognition Test] and [Picture Vocabulary Test], which tests stored language knowledge, support this hypothesis.” Because both groups of children who were spending more time on social media suffered from lower scores, the authors suggest that stricter age restrictions could offer one possible solution. They also pointed out the limitations of their research. While the study was able to analyze test results from a huge sample of children as they aged, future research could benefit from examining if different social media platforms affect children’s development in different ways. View the full article

A reader writes: I was recently out to lunch with my manager and a client we’ve worked with for many years. We were talking about how the shift to WFH has changed the way we approach certain parts of our job and how we feel our companies get more work out of us than ever before because we aren’t chatting with folks in the office/going out to lunch/etc. nearly as much – all standard conversation these days. Then my manager (with whom I generally have a good relationship) said something that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about: “I don’t believe that people who work from home should take sick days.” I was honestly flummoxed! I sputtered something about illnesses like migraines or Covid that could certainly prevent someone from working, and managed to say pretty calmly that I disagreed with his position and that we work in a historically lower-paying industry where sick days are part of the not-great compensation we’re entitled to. But since then, it’s colored a lot of my interactions with him. I’ve wanted to say that I think his opinion is damaging and comes from an extremely privileged, able-bodied perspective (he is one of those people who never seems to get sick, only needs to sleep a few hours a night, has boundless energy, etc.). He also mentions frequently that he has not taken a real vacation in years, so in some ways he seems to view not taking time off overall as a point of pride (though he is supportive of other folks taking time off for vacation or to take care of family/personal matters). Part of me feels like I owe it to my broader team to address this, and I’ve thought about sending him some articles about why taking sick days is helpful for avoiding burnout, etc. The other part of me feels like it’s probably a losing battle and the better option is to keep being supportive of my team taking time off and being vocally supportive of sick time in group settings so he doesn’t have the opportunity to get defensive. He knows that I have a couple of chronic conditions, and he still felt comfortable saying this in front of me and in front of a client (!) so I’m torn about whether he’d be receptive, although I know I’m going to be thinking about this every time I consider taking a sick day now. He also manages a couple of fairly junior employees and, while I doubt he’s said this to them, it concerns me that it’s his position. Is this worth pushing back on again, and how can I approach it in a way that doesn’t just sound like me saying “you’re wrong,” which is bound to make him defensive? For what it’s worth, I am a high-performing member of my team, and I know he values my input on work-related matters. I have worked with him for over a decade so I have some capital I could expend. Have you seen evidence that he acts on this belief at work in any way? If you haven’t — if he’s never pushed back against or seemed disapproving of people taking sick days — it’s possible he just blurted out something dumb that he doesn’t actually think, or that at least doesn’t affect the way he manages in any meaningful way. Or even that he just hadn’t thought it through — like he was thinking about someone home with a cold who could comfortably work through their sniffles, and not considering an illness where that wouldn’t be wise or possible. If he’s not acting in ways that seem to judge or penalize real-life teammates for taking sick days, then your plan of just continuing to be vocally supportive of sick time is a reasonable way to go. But it’s also okay to speak up if you want to! You could say to him, “That comment you made at lunch the other day really stuck with me, about how people shouldn’t take sick days if they work from home. It’s true that if someone’s only reason for not working is because they’re contagious, remote work takes care of that. But other times people too sick to work — like with a bad flu, or Covid, or groggy from pain-killers — and they need to rest, not work. I want my team to take sick days when they need them.” (Note: you are not putting on the table the question of whether you should be doing something differently. That’s not up for discussion. To the extent that there’s a question here, it’s: do you really think that?) This is different from the argument you made on the spot (that sick days are part of people’s already-low compensation) and I suspect it’s more likely to get him to backtrack or to admit he spoke flippantly / hadn’t thought through what he was really saying. The post my boss says people who work from home shouldn’t take sick days appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Google’s Performance Max (PMax) campaigns now support vertical 9:16 image ads, bringing the popular mobile-friendly format to the platform’s most automated campaign type. What’s new. Google Ads specialist Thomas Eccel spotted the update, noting that vertical “Story Image Ads” – first seen in Demand Gen campaigns earlier this year – are now available in PMax. Specs at a glance: Minimum size: 600×1067 (recommended: 1080×1920) Maximum file size: 5MB Google hasn’t officially confirmed where these will serve, though in Demand Gen, they appear in YouTube Shorts Image placements. Why we care. Vertical 9:16 images let PMax campaigns fit naturally into mobile-first environments like YouTube Shorts, where user attention is highest. Experts say this update goes beyond creative specs. As Phil Byrne, founder of Positive Sparks Marketing LTD, noted, it’s about “meeting users where they naturally consume content.” With Shorts, Reels, and TikTok dominating mobile engagement, vertical formats are key to maintaining attention and relevance. The bigger picture. Mike Ryan, head of ecommerce insights at Smarter Ecommerce, added that PMax is already monetizing YouTube Shorts through “GMC Image Shorts,” which display multiple product images for remarketing and personalization – a sign that Google is leaning deeper into short-form, shoppable media. View the full article

We talk a lot about how to make sure your clients pay you, fairly and on time. Sometimes, though, the people who are hiring you for your talent and services are not clients, companies, or businesses as we traditionally conceive of them — they’re your fellow freelancers. Whether it’s being hired by a photographer to style a shoot, writing for a friend’s blog, or even performing on a comedy show, it’s important to set expectations, communicate clearly, and follow through. Set clear expectations from the beginning No matter who you’re working for, in whichever capacity it is (and yes, performing counts as work) it’s important to know from the outset if it’s a paid opportunity, and if so, how that payment will be delivered. Sometimes, for example, payment can come in the form of a percentage of audience ticket sales. Sometimes payment is in the form of free food and drinks from the venue, and a small stipend. Whatever the payment may be — if there is payment at all — it’s important to set clear expectations before the work begins.Maybe you’re perfectly fine with not getting paid if you consider this a chance to help out a fellow freelancer and build relationships, but it’s important to know that going in, in order to protect yourself and your time.Consider what sort of rate or bartering you feel comfortable with, or is most appropriate In situations where the pay may be low because it’s tied to box office sales, audience attendance, or some sort of royalty situation, it’s up to you to do the calculus if it’s worth taking on. If there are other benefits to be gained, it’s ok to say to yourself that you’ll do this one for less than your current rate, or set aside a number of hours or evenings per month you’re willing to lend out to help another freelancer. That said, if you know upfront that payment hasn’t been guaranteed, it’s difficult to then go back later and ask for money after everything has transpired.When in doubt, ask questions Don’t forget: You can (and should) ask questions! It’s ok to check in with clarifying questions about when payment might arrive and in what form. The freelancer may also be waiting on funds to arrive, say from Eventbrite, and be planning to distribute them once the payout hits their account. That said, asking about what the timeline is will help manage expectations; if it’s been a month and your money still hasn’t been transferred to you, then it’s fair to have some cause for concern.Keep records the way you would with any other client Here’s where you’ll want to treat this like you would any other payment situation: Make sure you’re keeping clear records of everything that transpires. That includes an outline of payment owed and in what form, when they said payment should be delivered, and any subsequent followups. This is just in case anything needs to be escalated, or simply as a reminder to yourself that you might not want to work with this person again.Evaluate the relationship: Is this worth your time and energy?If you’ve sent a few followups about payment and they were brushed off, or met with silence, now is the time for you to decide how aggressively you want to pursue the situation. If you’re owed $15 by someone within your community, it may not be worth the time or energy to try to track them down, but rather a reason to not collaborate with them again in the future.Proceed how you would with any other client who owes you money Now, if it’s a significant amount of money (which is up for you to decide), and your follow-ups have been ignored or met with false promises, it might be time to elevate the situation. You can start by sending your own demand letter and see if that prompts a response, and from there, be aware of your options if your city or state has Freelance Isn’t Free laws. And this is where a record of communications will come in handy. Whether you’re owed money by a gigantic corporation, or a fellow freelancer, if someone promised to pay you for your work, you’re well within your right to pursue it. View the full article

We talk a lot about how to make sure your clients pay you, fairly and on time. Sometimes, though, the people who are hiring you for your talent and services are not clients, companies, or businesses as we traditionally conceive of them — they’re your fellow freelancers. Whether it’s being hired by a photographer to style a shoot, writing for a friend’s blog, or even performing on a comedy show, it’s important to set expectations, communicate clearly, and follow through. Set clear expectations from the beginning No matter who you’re working for, in whichever capacity it is (and yes, performing counts as work) it’s important to know from the outset if it’s a paid opportunity, and if so, how that payment will be delivered. Sometimes, for example, payment can come in the form of a percentage of audience ticket sales. Sometimes payment is in the form of free food and drinks from the venue, and a small stipend. Whatever the payment may be — if there is payment at all — it’s important to set clear expectations before the work begins.Maybe you’re perfectly fine with not getting paid if you consider this a chance to help out a fellow freelancer and build relationships, but it’s important to know that going in, in order to protect yourself and your time.Consider what sort of rate or bartering you feel comfortable with, or is most appropriate In situations where the pay may be low because it’s tied to box office sales, audience attendance, or some sort of royalty situation, it’s up to you to do the calculus if it’s worth taking on. If there are other benefits to be gained, it’s ok to say to yourself that you’ll do this one for less than your current rate, or set aside a number of hours or evenings per month you’re willing to lend out to help another freelancer. That said, if you know upfront that payment hasn’t been guaranteed, it’s difficult to then go back later and ask for money after everything has transpired.When in doubt, ask questions Don’t forget: You can (and should) ask questions! It’s ok to check in with clarifying questions about when payment might arrive and in what form. The freelancer may also be waiting on funds to arrive, say from Eventbrite, and be planning to distribute them once the payout hits their account. That said, asking about what the timeline is will help manage expectations; if it’s been a month and your money still hasn’t been transferred to you, then it’s fair to have some cause for concern.Keep records the way you would with any other client Here’s where you’ll want to treat this like you would any other payment situation: Make sure you’re keeping clear records of everything that transpires. That includes an outline of payment owed and in what form, when they said payment should be delivered, and any subsequent followups. This is just in case anything needs to be escalated, or simply as a reminder to yourself that you might not want to work with this person again.Evaluate the relationship: Is this worth your time and energy?If you’ve sent a few followups about payment and they were brushed off, or met with silence, now is the time for you to decide how aggressively you want to pursue the situation. If you’re owed $15 by someone within your community, it may not be worth the time or energy to try to track them down, but rather a reason to not collaborate with them again in the future.Proceed how you would with any other client who owes you money Now, if it’s a significant amount of money (which is up for you to decide), and your follow-ups have been ignored or met with false promises, it might be time to elevate the situation. You can start by sending your own demand letter and see if that prompts a response, and from there, be aware of your options if your city or state has Freelance Isn’t Free laws. And this is where a record of communications will come in handy. Whether you’re owed money by a gigantic corporation, or a fellow freelancer, if someone promised to pay you for your work, you’re well within your right to pursue it. View the full article