Bradley Tusk’s novel ‘Obvious in Hindsight’ is not flying-car fiction | Fast Company

November 8, 2023November 7, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Where is my flying car?

This plaintive wail has echoed through society for more than a century, particularly in the United States, as the idea has captivated tinkerers and dreamers alike, but with little to show for their faith. The very phrase “flying car” has become a shorthand for innovation itself, a signifier of technological progress or our lack thereof.

All of which makes flying cars—which have a heightened place in contemporary business and culture with the rise of the electric vehicle takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), epitomized by Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation, Wisk, and literally more than 100 other startups—rich airspace for a satirical novel about what it would really take for flying cars to take off.

8 Important Steps to Dissolving Your Business | AllBusiness.com

November 7, 2023November 6, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Entrepreneurs have faced more than their fair share of challenges these past few years, and 2022 has been no exception with inflation up and consumer spending down. Sadly, some business owners have decided to close their companies due to economic difficulties. Others may want to cease operations for other reasons, like retirement. Regardless of why someone chooses to close their business, it’s important for them to realize there’s more to the process than simply stopping selling products and services. There are additional requirements to legally end a business’s existence.

What a business owner must do depends on the type of business structure (e.g., sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, C Corporation), where the company is located, whether it has employees, and other factors. As you can imagine, there are both legal and financial considerations to address, so guidance from a reputable and reliable attorney, accountant, and tax advisor can help ensure all goes smoothly and no critical tasks get missed.

How to Use Data in Advertising | AllBusiness.com

November 7, 2023November 6, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Data plays an important role in making informed decisions about advertising and can provide you with valuable insights about your target audience. Here 12 industry professionals share how to use data to tailor your next advertising campaign to achieve maximum results.

12 ways to use data to improve your advertising results

1. Retargeting campaigns

“When search/demographics data is available, we like to use it for retargeting campaigns and targeted search-engine ads. One of our recent advertising campaigns, which targeted businesses looking for print designs, almost flopped. But a retargeting campaign fueled by data helped us recover our money and make a profit. Retargeting campaigns are popular in advertising, but they only work when you can make informed decisions using customer data.”

—Tom Golubovich, Ninja Transfers

Zoom Teams Up with Walmart Business to Offer Affordable Collaboration Tools for SMBs

November 6, 2023November 5, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Zoom and Walmart Business have joined hands to deliver robust communication and collaboration tools at discounted rates. This partnership is set to bring high-quality digital solutions within reach of SMBs, playing a vital role in their growth and ability to tackle challenges effectively.

As part of the new collaboration, Walmart Business+ customers can avail a remarkable 40% discount on the Zoom One Pro Annual plan. This positions Zoom as the exclusive Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) provider for Walmart Business+ clientele.

5 Warning Signs You Need to Outsource Your HR | Business.com

November 3, 2023November 2, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Your company’s human resources (HR) chief is responsible for many critical aspects of your workforce. They’re tasked with finding, hiring, training and assessing the performance of your employees. Your HR team is also responsible for developing an appealing culture and ensuring the company complies with all labor and employment laws. They may also oversee payroll. If you have unionized employees, HR is the liaison between your company and the union. To say that HR carries responsibility for your company’s success is an understatement.

What is HR outsourcing?

HR outsourcing is exactly what it sounds like. It is handing off some or all of your HR functions to a third party. This can be an alternative to hiring an internal HR department or used in tandem with an in-house HR professional who handles some of your HR responsibilities.

Outsourced HR services depend on the contract between the company and the provider. The client service agreement often asks the contractor to handle payroll by managing all withholdings and taxes. The HR company may also be in charge of releasing all W-2s to worksite employees. You may also use the outsourced service to manage employee benefits or retirement plans.

The Benefits of Text Message Marketing | Business.com

November 3, 2023November 2, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Marketers continually look for ways to improve mobile engagement with customers. Several studies prove mobile is an effective platform for driving purchases. Keeping customers satisfied and happily engaged is something every brand and business wants to champion.

A growing number of mobile consumers prefer and appreciate the ease of access from a simple link in a text message. The simplicity and ubiquity of text messaging have enabled it to emerge as a differentiated business-to-consumer engagement channel. It offers several benefits to marketers looking to engage target shoppers on their mobile devices, ensuring their preferences and convenience are respected.

While many marketers are still playing catch-up with mobile engagement, several recent trends suggest convenience holds the key to deepening mobile engagement and responding to consumer expectations. Text messaging is one such proven approach and it’s a highly effective engagement strategy for mobile marketers.

Which Amazon Echo should you buy? | Digital Trends

November 2, 2023November 1, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

If you’re a fan of Alexa’s gentle tones and like using voice commands around your home — including setting up smart routines or enabling Alexa Guard for some extra safety while you’re away — then you may be thinking about getting an Amazon Echo smart speaker. Or maybe you want to give an Amazon Show to a family member or friend to make it easier to communicate with them. But what should you get?

There are quite a few Amazon Echo models available, with more arriving all the time, so we know it can be confusing to figure out the latest models and which may be the right pick for you. Don’t worry. Our guide is here to help with our picks for the best and newest Echos available, along with details on who they’re suited for.

Things to Keep in Mind Ahead of Chargeback Season | The Startup Magazine

November 1, 2023October 31, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The holidays approach and that means many businesses are going to enjoy a holiday sales bump. While chargebacks are a serious threat all year round, holiday sales often lead to an increase in chargebacks in December, January, and February. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to mitigate them, but proper preparation is a must.

Setup a Dispute Management Platform

If you haven’t set up a chargeback and dispute management platform, it’s crucial that you do so before the holidays. These platforms make it easier to deflect, track, and manage disputes when they arise. Your staff will likely be stretched thin during the holidays and the weeks after, so anything that can ease burdens can go a long way

Unlocking the Power of Color: How to Apply Color Theory in Website Design | The Startup Magazine

November 1, 2023October 31, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Introduction to Color Theory

Understanding the basics of color theory is imperative when creating a visually appealing and user-friendly website. Conceived by Sir Isaac Newton, color theory examines how different colors interact with each other and how they influence our moods and perceptions. It’s an incredibly powerful tool that, when wielded correctly, can have a profound impact on your site’s effectiveness.

The Impact of Colors: Mood and Perception

Colors have a considerable bearing on our emotions and can largely dictate how we feel about particular environments. For instance:

– Blue symbols serenity, stability, and trust

– Red is for passion, excitement, and intensity

– Yellow radiates happiness, energy, and intellect

Neglecting to consider the psychological associations of colors can hinder your ability to connect with your website’s viewers on an emotional level.

At Just 27, Legalist’s Eva Shang Manages Nearly $1B in Assets | Entrepreneur

October 26, 2023October 24, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Eva Shang, 27, never envisioned a career in business. As a young adult, she enrolled at Harvard College and imagined a future as a civil rights lawyer. But she’d end up on a different path — leaving the university altogether to start her own hedge fund out of a garage at age 20.

Today, the hedge fund Shang co-founded with fellow Harvard undergraduate Christian Haigh is Legalist: An institutional alternative asset management firm using data-driven technology to invest in credit assets at scale; it boasts nearly $1 billion in assets.

Entrepreneur sat down with Shang to learn more about her journey building Legalist — and her best advice for other young women who want to break into the hedge-fund space.