The Federal Trade Commission narrowly voted Tuesday to ban nearly all noncompetes, employment agreements that typically prevent workers from joining competing businesses or launching ones of their own…

…noncompetes are vital to companies, by allowing them to better guard trade secrets, and employees, by giving employers greater incentive to invest in workforce training and development. (Read on…)

Businesses across various sectors recognize the value of content marketing in engaging with their audience, building brand awareness and driving sales, leading to more substantial investments in content marketing strategies and tools. This trend reflects the industry’s evolving role as a central component of digital marketing and its substantial contribution to the global marketing economy…(Read on…)

In October 2023, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)–an international organization that recommends and maintains web-related protocols, guidelines, and standards–adopted the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, by elevating them to “Recommended” status. Web developers, individuals with accessibility issues, and U.S. courts all look to the WCAG Guidelines as industry standards for web accessibility… (Read on…)

Backing up your WordPress site is a simple process. With just a few steps, you can ensure that all of your website’s content and settings are secure and easily restorable in the event of a system failure or other unexpected issues.

Why do I need to back up my WordPress website?
Backing up your website is essential for protecting against data loss in the event of a system failure, malicious attack, or other unexpected issue. With regular backups, you can be sure that all of your content and settings are secure and can be quickly restored in the event of a disaster.

(Read on…)

Virtual Offices have long been a convenient and cost-effective way for small business owners and digital nomads with flexible working arrangements to level up their online presence and lend additional credibility to their business. Most coworking spaces and flexible offices offer a convenient Virtual Office membership at affordable monthly prices, but their offerings cover a wide range of benefits and prices. It can be difficult to navigate the sea of the $44 billion global Virtual Office market that consistently bombards potential buyers with ads.
(Read more…)

Brand Archetypes defined: Noted psychologist Carl Jung (pronounced: “yoong”) theorized that humans use symbolism to more easily understand complex concepts.

As a result of his research, Jung stated: “There are forms or images of a collective nature which occur practically all over the earth as constituents of myths and at the same time, as individual products of unconscious.”

In this work, Jung maintained that over the course of all time, for people, certain paths to greater understanding remain..(Read on…)

Whether you’re just starting out with WordPress or consider yourself a seasoned pro, don’t hesitate to join us and contribute to the conversation.

Well…we’ve hit a pretty significant milestone. The WordPress Web Help Meetup Group just hit 1000 members! I want to thank all who’ve joined over the years and especially the core group of members who show up to answer questions and help those further back on the learning curve to get up to speed with this truly cool marketing platform. (Read on…)

SPEAKER PRESENTATION:
CRAFTING YOUR WEBSITE’S MISSION: A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS by Holly Cliffe

Discover why defining your website’s objective is paramount for online success. Join marketing veteran Holly Cliffe as she unpacks the pivotal role of objectives in content development and marketing strategies. Learn how to structure your website to guide visitors seamlessly through their buyer journey, ensuring a stellar user experience that…(Read on…)

Starting in April, senders of unwanted mass emails to Gmail users will begin to see message rejections increasing unless they abide by new Gmail email sender guidelines, Google warns.

New Rules For Sending Mass Email To Gmail Accounts
As an article I published on Forbes on last Tuesday made clear, new rules are coming into place to protect Gmail users from unwanted mass emails. At the time, it was reported that some senders of mass marketing emails had started to receive error messages relating to some messages sent to Gmail accounts. (Read on…)

A leading CMS, WordPress, is used on almost 40% of all websites worldwide. All these aspects can be related to its popularity, user-friendly interface, massive offer of customization options, and support they offer to their users…

Why are WordPress Sites Vulnerable
Despite its popularity and myriad uses, WordPress sites are susceptible to several forms of security hazards. Several factors contribute to their susceptibility: The objectives in the following ballot have three states: approved, disapproved, and void. Let’s look at some reasons now why WordPress sites are so vulnerable… (Read on…)

There are 33.2 million small businesses in the USA, which make up about 99.9% of all American businesses. Making yours stand out and grow effectively and fast among so many small businesses can be a real challenge.

Most business owners feel intimidated about investing in their business growth. Due to the tough competition, they feel there’s no point in spending on strategies.

However, there are some great ideas – ON A BUDGET – to make your business shine among existing customers and even turn prospective customers into regulars. So, let’s know all the strategies here! (Read on…)

Everyday financial tasks often resemble the repetitive cycle experienced by Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. These routine personal finance tasks can feel like an endless repetition of the same day. From paying rent to rebuilding emergency funds, the monotony can be overwhelming. This article delves into these Groundhog Day financial moments, providing practical insights and strategies to transform the mundane into opportunities for financial growth.
(Read on…)

There isn’t one right way to do marketing. The more I’ve dabbled in marketing, the more I’ve realized it’s a bottomless pit of possibilities. I also noticed the value of affiliate marketing, something 80% of brands use. There’s a reason it’s so popular.

TikTok, Instagram, and similar social media platforms have become gospel for consumers. Whatever they’re selling, we want it. “TikTok made me buy it!” isn’t just a cutesy phrase. It’s the truth. As consumers, we want what we’re reading about in …(Read on…)

Keep your business safe by maintaining a secure Wi-Fi network, using strong passwords and updating software regularly.

Cybersecurity is important for everyone, and businesses are no exception. 61% of small and mid-size businesses (SMBs) were victims of cyberattacks last year and 87% of IT ‘decision makers’ claim they experienced two or more successful attacks in the past year.

Cyberattacks leave not only businesses vulnerable but their employees and consumers as well. Luckily, there are ways to keep your business safe from. cybersecurity threats. (Read on…)

Making a website accessible means building a platform that maximum people can share and find reliable. That’s why WordPress Accessibility is so crucial.

More than 45.8% of websites across the globe will be powered by WordPress in 2023. The figure was 43.2% in 2022. Whether you want to create a simple or complex website for your business, WordPress can create the most trusted, versatile and user-friendly platform for your business goals… (Read on…)

You may not realize it, but most U.S. businesses are small businesses; SBA statistics show that 99 percent of all businesses are independent companies with fewer than 500 employees.

That’s the good news. The bad news? While estimates vary, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data 20 percent of new businesses fail within two years, 45 percent during the first five years, and 65 percent during the first 10 years. (Only 25 percent make it for 15 years or more.) (Read on…)

In this article, you are going to discover over 100 simple ways to increase organic traffic to your website or web property that you can implement today.

We’ve complied this list based on many years of online marketing experience and offer the to you to explore and use. While this list is extensive, many of the items may require more research on your behalf or the assistance of a marketing professional. (Read on…)

Running a small business is by no means an easy task, especially when you are just getting started – you have limited time, resources, and budget, all while trying to get things done in order to create more awareness and grow your brand. Nonetheless, it is crucial to get your company name out there as much as possible to generate a customer pipeline and have steady incoming revenue. So, the question becomes: What’s the best way to get started?

PR, or Public Relations, is more essential than ever for small businesses to grow in 2024, and it doesn’t have to be super complicated or costly… (Read on…)

People have a hard time attending meetings that are longer than one hour.

Maybe it’s today’s ADD. Or perhaps, it’s just that any meeting that long is a waste of many people’s time.

Either way, there is almost no reason to schedule a meeting for over 60 minutes.

If you do, you’re scheduling more time than is necessary or productive. (Read on…)

New artificial intelligence functions for MAPs can do everything from generating personalized content to optimizing campaigns.

Like much marketing technology, many marketing automation platforms (MAPs) are being enhanced with new AI-powered features.

One reason for this is the need to improve personalization and drive it to all parts of marketing. A recent survey shows 73% of respondents — both consumers and business buyers — expect companies to…(Read on…)

It’s a New Year. Time to make changes? Well…up to you. How about weight loss? Easy, reasonable changes are always more accessible than drastic, major changes that you hate and are hard to sustain. Here’s some easy things you can do to enjoy real change throughout this New Year. (Read on…)

Improving finances is a common resolution for the New Year. In 2023, 53% of Americans who set resolutions wanted to prioritize getting their finances in order. While that figure has dropped to 38% for 2024, it is still the second-most popular resolution after improving fitness.

Unfortunately, most resolutions are abandoned before February rolls around. In fact, studies have found that only 9% of Americans who make resolutions actually complete them. (Read on…)

DreamHost®, a global leader in web hosting and Managed WordPress services, today announced it has been named “Best WordPress Hosting Provider” in the 2023 Monster’s Award, a recognition of top-tier WordPress solutions administered by TemplateMonster. (Read on….)

There are 12 people whose decisions will impact the profits and growth for many small businesses next year. Keep a close eye on them. (Read on…)

Almost half of all workers in the country work for a business with fewer than 500 employees – and that doesn’t even account for the some 27 million small business owners who are their own sole employee.
Unfortunately, because small businesses are the drivers of our economy, they are also a ripe target for cyberattacks. The FBI recently reported that the majority of cybercrime victims are small businesses. (Read on…)

The WordPress showcase is a curated collection of websites built with WordPress. Its purpose is to inspire, and show the breadth of what WordPress can achieve. Currently the showcase features around a hundred sites, including large enterprises like the New York Times and NASA. It aims to challenge misconceptions about WordPress, and highlight the platforms scale and reach.

The design of the showcase is contemporary and visually impactful. It shows that whatever proprietary platforms can do, WordPress can also do. (Read on…)

In today’s fast-paced online world, how fast your website works can make or break the experience for users. People want things quick, and if your site takes forever to load, you might lose them. That’s where WordPress developers come in. If you’re using WordPress – the go-to system for managing web content – these developers can be your heroes, making sure your site runs super smooth. So, when you’re ready to enhance your website speed and performance, it’s time to consider hiring WordPress developers.
(Read on…)

To uncover the key financial metrics pivotal for small business success, we’ve gathered insights from ten industry leaders, including COOs and a content writer. From the importance of monitoring Net Revenue Retention to focusing on profit margins for success, these executives shed light on the numbers that truly matter.

(Read on…)

In this video, we’ll show you how to choose and install a cookie plugin on WordPress. We’ll discuss all the things you need to consider before installing a cookie plugin and how to respect relevant regulations such as GDPR. I’ll also recommend you a great cookie plugin that you should consider installing. (Watch video…)

Gemini is Google’s latest large language model, which Pichai first teased at the I/O developer conference in June and is now launching to the public. To hear Pichai and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis describe it, it’s a huge leap forward in an AI model that will ultimately affect practically all of Google’s products. “One of the powerful things about this moment,” Pichai says, “is you can work on one underlying technology and… (Read on…)

Key Takeaways:
Using a debt consolidation loan to combine your existing debt can help you streamline your monthly payments and save on interest.

Other debt relief strategies like debt settlement and bankruptcy should only be used as a last resort since they can cause serious harm to your credit profile.

A credit counselor can create a debt management plan for you (DMP) — this plan can help you pay off debt within… (Read on…)

Small businesses often struggle with advertising due to limited budgets. However, there are many completely free ways to promote your business online and increase brand awareness. In this article, we will explore the best free small business advertising ideas for 2023 that can help small businesses grow their customer base without breaking the bank.

(Read on…)

Frustrated with your Website? Fails with D.I.Y. site builders? HERE’S THE ANSWER!
Great for DIY’ers! Not just a website, but a turn-key small business marketing solution.

Here’s The Thing: You Should Spend Your Time On Your Business, Not Struggling To Learn Web Design! (Read on…)

Being a talented public speaker is a skill that is able to help advance a wide range of careers. The first step in this pursuit typically begins with enrolling in public speaking classes to help you master the craft.

Whether you are a published author trying to promote your new book, a marketing specialist presenting an important pitch at work, or anything in-between, being a great public speaker is something that is sure to be incredibly valuable. (Read on…)

Rich in Antioxidants, Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene…and they’re just healthier than white potatoes. These are just some of the reasons you ought to consider more sweet potatoes in your nutritional mix for healthy eating. (Read on…)

FRESNO, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2023) – NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case Ghost Golf Inc. et al. v. Gavin Newsom at the California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District. The case concerns Governor Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the government shutdown of businesses ordered during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the separation of powers. (Read on…)

Bad Night?
1/16
You’re dragging after a night of tossing and turning. It’s probably going to be a tough day at work. What can you do to make things a little easier and make sure you sleep better tonight? (Read on…)

You’re hungry and staring into your fridge, but is there anything healthy in there? Stock up on a few key staples to make sure there’s something good waiting for you. (Read on…)

What do the latest video marketing statistics tell you about growing your small business? The answers will surprise you. 92% of marketers say that videos are an important part of their marketing strategies, and 88% of them accept that videos offer them a positive return on investment (ROI).

If you want to use video content as a marketing tool, we have collected key video marketing statistics below to help you make informed decisions. (Read on…)

If you’re an up-and-coming entrepreneur, you’re going to face the challenge of getting investment for your small business.

Start-up funding can seem hard to come by, and indeed the funding landscape is not as favourable as it was a few years ago. However, this doesn’t mean that money isn’t available. Great ideas still get funded, but you need to think carefully about the kind of investment you’re going to take, and the terms on which you’ll take it. (Read on…)

NASA has removed the beta label from the new nasa.gov website, which was launched on WordPress, replacing Drupal as the CMS. After a lengthy process, which required 18 months of active web development, data migration, and content building, NASA has emerged with modernized flagship and science websites, showcasing the innovation and discoveries that have defined the agency for more than 65 years…(Read on…)

Gutenberg 16.7 was released this week, packed with several features that are headlining the upcoming WordPress 6.4 release. This will be the last plugin release that will be rolled into the next version of WordPress.

Font management with the new font library is now available for testing in the plugin. These features standardize a way to add font collections to WordPress’ new font library… (Read on…)

Dan Buettner’s decades-long exploration of centenarians who thrive in the longest-lived communities on Earth is attracting lots of attention.

His new Netflix documentary, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, is trending as a top streaming pick…

Compared with Americans, people in Okinawa are about three times more likely to reach their 100th birthday, according to Buettner’s research. (Read on…)

Many have asked the question: Does web accessibility positively impact SEO?

To date, there have been no conclusive answers.

So, to see what impact (if any) accessibility has on SEO, we created an independent study.

We discovered some intriguing answers along the way.

And now, we’re sharing our results. (Read on…)

Big businesses have a wealth of expertise, and the ones on our Champions of Small Business list want to make their know-how available to you.

Key Takeaways
The 2023 Champions of Small Business is our first-annual list of big businesses that are helping entrepreneurs with grants, accelerators, and free resources.
Below find great learning resources and free online courses… (Read on…)

With 950 million members as of July, LinkedIn is poised to soon have a billion users, joining a rarefied three-comma club with the likes of Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Started in 2003 as little more than an online repository for résumés, the Microsoft-owned behemoth has recently transformed. Not only are there more users to post, but they’re posting much more often. The number of LinkedIn posts grew 41% from 2021 to 2023. But it’s the content of the posts that’s shifted the most,.. (Read on…)

It can be hard to know how to act at work. I want to be my relaxed, authentic self — but sometimes that comes off as way too casual.

For example, I once called my boss “dude.” She’s not that much older than I am, so I slipped into a more laid-back attitude that should probably be reserved for peers. I instantly felt like… (Read on…)

I’ve now taken the procedure I follow in reviewing sites and converted it into a tool…available free…to help small business owners to improve their online presence by diagnosing and fixing some of the most common website fails.

For some time now, I’ve been performing website audits for business clients in order to help them determine whether they’re getting full value from their website investment. (Read on…)

Did you know vitamin B12 is often called “the energy vitamin”? Not only is vitamin B12 pivotal in keeping your blood and nerve cells healthy, but it’s also involved in making DNA – meaning it’s literally part of the material that makes up every single cell of your body. So, when you hear health professionals say vitamin B12 is kind of a big deal, we mean it! 

Now, there may be a “magic pill” for what seems like everything these days, including vitamin B12, but buyer beware… (Read on…)

WordPress powers almost 43% of all websites and not all of them are in English. In fact, the number of non-English websites is on the rise, with 56% of WordPress sites being created in languages other than U.S. English. This shows there’s a huge opportunity for going multilingual and translating your site in multiple languages.

But getting started can be confusing, even for experienced WordPress users. (Read on…)