This week, WordPress 6.3 was released! And this is definitely an update you want to check out. It comes with a renewed site editor, lots of new design options, and improvements in terms of performance and accessibility. Especially the updated site editor got us excited, it makes working on your website a breeze! In this post, we’ve listed the highlights of this week’s release that you will definitely want to know more about! (Read on…)
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What are blocks? WordPress has added a new resource to its website at wordpress.org/blocks that attempts to explain blocks visually with simple language. The landing page is aimed at those who are new to the block paradigm or those who may not yet fully understand blocks’ ease of use and powerful features. (Read on…)
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Online visitors are pretty savvy and will judge your whole business by what they see in the first 3 seconds, and right now, you have to ask yourself the question: “are my visitors responding well to my logo and branding?” Logo design is tricky ground because people love their logos and I never like to offend, That said, respectfully, logo may not be the most important thing on your website, but it needs to look top notch so logo design should be an important consideration in creating and/or the continuing success of your business. (Read on…)
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As a small business owner, you’re always searching for ways to attract new customers to increase your revenue and grow the company. Chances are that you’ve spent a significant amount of money on various marketing strategies to promote your business. It can be challenging to decide which type of marketing channel you should invest in, since there are many ways to reach new potential customers.
The good news is that there’s a secret weapon that you can use: inbound marketing…. (Read on…)
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It’s a mistake because rebranding is always a mistake. Even if your brand is called Wanker or the Certified Union of National Transcribers, you keep your original name. The only reason you ever rebrand is because you have to for legal or ownership reasons, cf. Accenture.
It’s a mistake because Twitter is throwing away brand equity. While the debate rages over distinctiveness and differentiation, no one doubts that a significant – and possibly dominant – aspect of brand equity is derived from a brand’s ability to be recognised by its target market and to come to mind in buying/user situations. When you rebrand you lose all of this…(Read on…)
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One of the most pivotal innovations that artificial intelligence offers small businesses is the ability to change the rules of engagement — a more level playing field. And its adoption in this size category has been stunning: According to Unbounce’s recent Break Free: The State of AI Marketing for Small Business report, approximately 30% of small and medium-sized businesses are leveraging some form of artificial intelligence.
One overriding challenge, however, is that implementing (Read on…)
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WordPress’ Recommended Hosting page is a hotly contested piece of online real estate, and has recently come into focus again following the removal of SiteGround from the listings. When the change was highlighted during a recent Meta team meeting, Audrey Capital-sponsored contributor Samuel “Otto” Wood said, “Matt asked me to remove SiteGround because… (Read on….)
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AI companies including OpenAI, Alphabet (GOOGL.O) and Meta Platforms (META.O) have made voluntary commitments to the White House to implement measures such as watermarking AI-generated content to help make the technology safer, President Joe Biden announced on Friday.
“These commitments are a promising step but we have a lot more work to do together,” Biden said. (Read on…)
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Google is testing a tool that uses AI to write news stories and has started pitching it to publications, according to a new report from The New York Times. The tech giant has pitched the AI tool to The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal’s owner, News Corp.
The tool, internally codenamed “Genesis,” can take in information and then generate news copy. Google reportedly believes that the tool can serve as a personal assistant for journalists by automating…(Read on…)
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Writing a powerful resume can seem like an art form in and of itself. And when doing so, there are various don’ts to keep in mind: Don’t misspell words. Don’t go over two pages. Don’t write a list of vague skills without providing proof you’ve actually accrued them.
For Nolan Church, who’s worked in talent acquisition at companies like Google and who’s currently the CEO of talent marketplace Continuum, there’s one major red flag. “The No. 1 thing I don’t want to see on a resume is probably text bricks,” he says, which is to say “endless streams of text that have a lot of words but not a lot of content.” (Read on…)
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“Passing the Main Street Tax Certainty Act would stop an enormous tax increase currently scheduled to strike small businesses at the end of 2025,” said Brad Close, NFIB President. “The 20% Small Business Deduction is set to expire in 2025, and without it, small businesses will have to limit their plans to grow, invest, and hire. By making the deduction permanent, small business owners will have the tax certainty they need to make business decisions about their future. We are encouraged that this important legislation has been introduced in both the House and the Senate and urge Congress to consider it.” (Read on…)
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Marketing opportunities are endless, but marketing budgets are finite. Is it better for a mom-and-pop business to put money into online and social media marketing, or to invest in real-life sponsorships and events?
As with many things in business, you can only find out through trial and error, says Rus Graham, cofounder of New England-based Rushton Gregory Communications.
“The difficulty with marketing programs is that everyone is unique,” Graham says. “There isn’t a cookie-cutter approach.” (Read on….)
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Technology has transformed how we interact, work, and even handle money. From mobile banking applications to digital budgeting tools, technology has changed the financial landscape, giving customers unparalleled power and convenience over their money. This post will examine how technology has influenced personal economics and how individuals may utilise these advancements to make better financial decisions. Technology integration has opened up new avenues for financial management, whether budgeting, sensible investment, or long-term planning. (Read on…)
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Content marketing is a strategy that utilizes a wide variety of channels, including social media, websites, videos, infographics, podcasts and blogs, to attract potential customers. By creating, publishing and sharing relevant content, companies are building their brand, establishing trust, increasing engagement and ultimately influencing more people to buy their products and services.
With an influx of options everywhere we turn, establishing and nurturing a strong, sustainable relationship with customers is more important than ever. Buyers need to feel not only satisfied, but also truly cared for, in order to stay loyal to a business. In addition to supporting this customer relationship, content marketing also helps make it easier for your customers to become champions of your brand and assist in boosting awareness.
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The data shows that omnichannel marketing strategies have power. When implemented successfully, they increase ad-driven store visits by 80%. With consumers relying more on their mobile devices and expecting tailored, seamless experiences from brands, failing to embrace omnichannel marketing seems like a wrong turn. Omnichannel strategies can boost sales, personalize the customer experience and increase retention rates.
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The number of Americans who say they are “cashless” has jumped in the last five years. Forty-one percent of Americans said they did not use cash for their purchases in a typical week in 2022, up from 29 percent in 2018, according to a Pew Research Center survey released last October.
Small-business owners increasingly are making the switch to cashless payments for several reasons, including rising consumer demand, faster checkout, lower labor costs and increased security. Those who wait risk losing revenue, experts say.
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When many of us hear how AI will change the world – particularly digital marketing – our thoughts (and occasionally fears) drift towards how big organizations will use machines to do the work of legions of copywriters, designers, and other content creators.
Large corporations with equally large customer bases and competitively driven content needs are looking to sophisticated AI systems to generate content, and process and analyze data to stay ahead.
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More than 70% of business owners want to originate digitally, and often the only easy way to do that is with a personal account, as banks have lagged on digital originations for businesses with multiple complexities, including the upcoming CFPB Section 1071 rules that will require banking institutions to collect and report data on lending to small businesses, defined as enterprises with gross revenue under $5 million.
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As millions of Americans across the country grapple with scorching heat, experts are offering tips for saving money amid record-breaking temperatures.
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Gutenberg 16.1 was released this week, debuting of the Pattern Library, which coincides with reusable blocks getting renamed to synced patterns. Users can now create and manage their own patterns that will also show up in the block inserter. Custom patterns are saved to the new Library alongside custom template parts.
This release also adds a new Distraction Free mode to the Site Editor, which removes all controls and menus, functioning in a similar way to the mode added to the content editor in October 2022.
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Brand loyalty is one thing, but when that loyalty is directed at a small business, it stands to benefit an entire community…The relationship between a small business and its customers is unique — rarely is it purely transactional. In fact, 37% of Americans say they purchase from small businesses to receive a more personal experience. Also, 30% of them are willing to pay more and 30% are willing to wait longer at small businesses versus major retailers or chain stores
More please! →Both Facebook and YouTube boast well over 2 billion global users each, with TikTok and Instagram both having over a billion each. This variety of social media platforms has completely evolved our online interactions. The only issue is knowing how to go about building an audience on the various social media platforms. Here’s an excellent guide to the importance of social media and how businesses can build their audience.
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As founder and CEO of a full-service digital marketing agency, I’ve seen firsthand how successful content marketing can be for businesses. I’ve also seen how so many companies get it wrong.
So, what is the purpose of content marketing? Let’s take a closer look.
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WordPress Web Help is a 900 member San Diego-based Meetup.com group that offers a “a friendly and easy way for folks to get help with their WordPress website where we can share questions and answers, make progress on your ideas or goals, and have fun in the process.” Brass Ring CEO has taken on the role of organizer…
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Worrying about money can affect you in more ways than you may realize. New research has found that the risks of several significant health problems increase when people are worried about their financial situation. If you find yourself stressing about money, follow the tips in this guide to help reduce the impact on your well-being.
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Whether you’re seeking financial help for your small business in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic or simply wondering how to obtain financing to expand, a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA) may be just the solution that you need.
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Whether you’ve been in business for quite some time or your endeavor is relatively new, preparing for revenue ebbs and flows is key for long term profitability and growth.
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Google is releasing a tool that makes it easier to remove search results containing your address, phone number and other personally identifiable information,
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Here are four things small business owners can do to set themselves up for success in an unfavorable economic environment.
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Published: Sep 21, 2022 You can find the entire article HERE on California’s Office of the Governor website. U.S. Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative will increase small business owners’ access to capital, cover upwards of 80% of loans California to launch new program designed to create a more-inclusive venture capital ecosystem SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced $1.1 billion in funding to support California’s small businesses. The funding comes from the U.S. Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and is intended to leverage an additional $18 billion of capital to California small businesses. “California is home to the
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60 day warranty (we take care of changes, fixes, etc. while we coach you to work on your site.)
*Not included. (Typically $40-60, we’ll discuss that before you purchase)
| By purchasing from Brass Ring Web Design, you confirm that you (the client) agree to adhere by these terms and conditions of these terms of service. These terms of service represent an agreement between you (the client) and Brass Ring Web Design (the developer) |
| 1. Time for Payment – All invoices are payable upon receipt. The grant of any license or right of copyright is conditioned on receipt of full payment. Any extras must be paid prior to website launch. |
| 2. Default in Payment – The Client shall assume responsibility for all collection of legal fees necessitated by default in payment. |
| 3. Estimates – If this form is used for an estimate or assignment confirmation, the fees and expenses shown are minimum estimates only. Final fees and expenses shall be shown when invoice is rendered. The Client’s approval shall be obtained for any increases in fees or expenses that exceed the original estimate by 10% or more. |
| 4. Expenses – The Client shall reimburse the Developer for all expenses arising from this assignment, including the payment of any sales taxes due on this assignment and shall advance $TBD (if any) to the Developer for payment of said expenses. |
| 5. Progress Reports – The Developer shall contact or meet with the Client on a mutually acceptable schedule to report all tasks completed, problems encountered, and recommended changes relating to the development and testing of the digital media. The Developer shall inform the Client promptly by telephone upon discovery of any event or problem that may significantly delay the development of the work. |
| 6. Changes – The Client shall be responsible for making additional payments for changes requested by the Client in original assignment. However, no additional payment shall be made for changes required to conform to the original assignment description. The Client shall offer the Developer the first opportunity to make any changes. |
| 7. Designee -The Developer shall designate (Edward A. Sanchez) and the Client shall designate one individual as the only designated persons who will send and accept all deliverables and receive and make all communications between the Developer and the Client.Neither party shall have any obligation to consider for approval or respond to materials or instructions submitted other than through the designated persons designated in “website planner form”. Each party has the right to change its designated person upon 5 days written notice to the other. |
| 8. Hosting – The Client authorizes the developer to access their website hosting account for purposes of ascertaining status, settings along with making any necessary changes needed for purposes of this project. |
| 9. Website Maintenance – The Developer agrees to provide the Client with reasonable technical support and assistance to maintain and update the Website after launch during the Warranty Period of 60 days at no cost to the Client. Such assistance shall not exceed 1 hour per calendar month. After the expiration of the Warranty Period, the Developer agrees to provide the Client with reasonable technical support and assistance to maintain and update the Website on the Internet for an annual fee of N/Afor a period of N/A years after the last day of the Warranty Period payable thirty (30) days prior to the commencement date of each year of the Maintenance Period. Such maintenance shall include correcting any errors or any failure of the Website to conform to the specifications. Maintenance shall not include the development of enhancements to the originally contracted project. |
| 10. Confidential Information – The Developer acknowledges and agrees that the source materials and technical and marketing plans or other sensitive business information, including all materials containing said information, which are supplied by the Client to the Developer or developed by the Developer in the course of developing the digital media are to be considered confidential information. Information shall not be considered confidential if it is already publicly known through no act of the Developer. |
| 11. Return of Source Information – Upon the Client’s acceptance of the Golden Master, launch of website or upon the cancellation of the project, the Developer shall provide the Client with all copies and originals of the source materials provided to the Developer. |
| 12. Ownership of Copyright – Client acknowledges and agrees that Developer retains all rights to copyright in any original artwork created by developer. |
| 13. Ownership and Return of Artwork – The Developer retains ownership of all original artwork, in any media, including digital files, whether preliminary or final. The Client waives the right to challenge the validity of the Developer’s ownership of the art subject to this agreement because of any change or evolution of the law and will return all artwork within thirty (30) days of use. |
| 14. Cancellation – In the event of cancellation of this assignment, ownership of all copyrights and the original artwork shall be retained by the Developer If, for any reason, client should decide to cancel this order, 15% of total shall be retained by designer until such point as work commences. Once work commences, if assignment is cancelled, fee owed will be based upon actual work completed. (See rates above) |
| 15. Ownership of Engine – The Developer retains ownership of all engines used in the production of the product unless those engines are provided by the Client. |
| 16. Credit – The Developer shall be given credit in footer of site in this form: WordPress Website by Brass Ring Web Design (incl. Link) |
| 17. Alterations – Any electronic alteration of original art (color shift, mirroring, flopping, combination cut and paste, deletion) creating additional art is prohibited without the express permission of the Developer. The Developer will be given first opportunity to make any alterations required. Unauthorized alterations shall constitute additional use and will be billed accordingly. |
| 18. Limitation of Liability – Client agrees that it shall not hold the Developer or his/her agents or employees liable for any incidental or consequential damages which arise from the Developer’s failure to perform any aspect of the Project in a timely manner, regardless of whether such failure was caused by intentional or negligent acts or omissions of the Developer or a third party. Furthermore, the Developer disclaims all implied warranties including the warranty of merchantability & fitness for a particular use |
| 19. Unauthorized Use and Program Licenses – The Client will indemnify the Developer against all claims and expenses arising from uses for which the Client does not have rights to or authority to use. The Client will be responsible for payment of any special licensing or royalty fees resulting from the use of graphics programs that require such payments |
| 20. Delays -The Developer will make every good faith effort to meet or exceed any mutually agreed deadlines. It is understood that this is a collaborative process & client agrees to provide completed questionnaire(s), text & image content within a reasonable period of time. We consult with you throughout this process so you’ll have guidance. A typical website project takes 6-8 weeks. If an excessive amount of weeks pass and content is not received for us to work with, do understand that reopening files & getting reacquainted with aged projects poses an extra challenge &likely increase overall increase in time expenditure. For this reason, a late fee may apply. Understand that delays can also negatively impact our other active clients’ projects. We will discuss creating content for you or hiring out content creation to help you move forward. |
| 21. Excessive Contact – We are in business to be of service & do not apply strict limits to the amount of support we give to our clients. The client understands that the developer must ensure it is able to provide quality service to all its clients, and that no clients should be disadvantaged by the behavior of others. Training time: Typically up to 3 hours of 1-on-1, in person or by phone after launch to ensure designated staff is able to carry out website content management, etc. Coaching time: During 60 day post-launch warranty, we will support trainee(s) to ensure confidence. Typically, 3 total hours but we are dedicated to getting you confident and capable by the end of your warranty period. |
| 22. Dispute Resolution – Any disputes in excess of $5000.00 (maximum limit for small claims court) arising out of this Agreement shall be submitted to binding arbitration before the Joint Ethics Committee or a mutually agreed upon arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Arbitrator’s award shall be final, and judgment may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The Client shall pay all arbitration and court costs, reasonable attorney’s fees, and legal interest on any award of judgment in favor of the Creator. |
| 23. Acceptance of Terms – Payment for this system indicates acceptance of above terms & conditions. |
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