Chemical plant fire in Georgia forces 90,000 residents to take shelter | Fast Company

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More than 90,000 residents east of Atlanta were told to keep sheltering in place Monday a day after a chemical plant fire sent a massive plume of dark smoke high into the sky that could been seen for miles.

The haze and chemical smell had spread to Atlanta by Monday morning, prompting firefighters to use detectors to check the quality of air in various parts of the city, Mayor Andre Dickens said.

Closer to the source of the fire, officials said chlorine, a harmful irritant, had been detected in the air from the fire at the BioLab plant in Conyers, Georgia, the Rockdale County government said in statement early Monday. The plant is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of downtown Atlanta.

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How to Plan an Exit Strategy for Your Small Business | All Business

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If you’re in the throes of building a company, you are likely not even thinking about what comes next. But now is also the time to start planning the long-term strategy for your exit. To one day pull off a successful—and profitable—business exit, there are four important steps.

Planning your small business exit strategy

1. Start planning early

Do you remember this quote from Mad Men? “The day you sign a client is the day you start losing them.” It’s not all that much different when you start a business. You know that your ownership or day-to-day management will come to an end someday; the question is whether or not you will be prepared for that day.

And there’s another truth that drives home the importance of this principle: You don’t get any mulligans with retirement. You will only get one chance at leaving your business, so you don’t want to be caught unaware when the time comes. Starting to plan five or even 10 years ahead of the date when you’d like to completely step away is about right.

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Does SEO Work Anymore? 4 Outdated SEO Practices and What to Do Instead | All Business

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When search engine optimization (SEO) was a new discipline, companies could toss up a piece of content, such as a blog post, that included word-for-word keywords and reap the benefits. As Google’s algorithm evolved and competitors began their own SEO efforts, companies then needed to tweak strategies, but they could still hire someone to churn out some cheap, keyword-laden content to score SEO wins. They could still post guest-written content without reviewing it for quality; they could use and be rewarded for various SEO gimmicks.

The fact is, this is no longer possible—not by a long shot. Here are four outdated SEO practices that no longer work, and what you need to do differently today to improve your website’s Google rankings.

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Justice Department Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Visa for Monopolizing Debit Markets | Small Business Trends

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The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Visa, accusing the company of monopolizing debit network markets in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Visa’s dominance in the debit network markets has allowed it to maintain a monopoly through exclusionary and anticompetitive conduct, undermining choice and innovation in payment systems.

According to the complaint, Visa controls over 60% of debit transactions in the United States, generating more than $7 billion in fees annually from processing these transactions. The Justice Department claims Visa illegally uses its dominance to stifle competition by imposing restrictive agreements on merchants and banks, penalizing them for using alternative debit networks. These practices allegedly protect Visa’s market position and prevent the growth of smaller, lower-priced competitors.

“We allege that Visa has unlawfully amassed the power to extract fees that far exceed what it could charge in a competitive market,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Merchants and banks pass along those costs to consumers, either by raising prices or reducing quality or service.  As a result, Visa’s unlawful conduct affects not just the price of one thing – but the price of nearly everything.”

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Federal Court Permanently Shuts Down Illinois Tax Preparer | Small Business Trends

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A federal court in the Northern District of Illinois has permanently enjoined Sir Michael Joseph Davenport, a tax preparer from Joliet, Illinois, and his company, My Unity Tax Financial & Tax Preparation LLC (My Unity Tax), from preparing federal tax returns for others.

Davenport is also barred from owning or operating any tax return preparation businesses in the future. The permanent injunction was agreed to by Davenport and his business.

The civil complaint filed in this case alleges that Davenport and My Unity Tax prepared false and fraudulent federal tax returns with the intent to reduce customers’ tax liabilities or obtain undeserved tax refunds. The complaint claims that Davenport and his company regularly reported fictitious businesses, minimal or no income, and fabricated or manipulated expenses on customers’ tax returns to fraudulently reduce taxable income. According to the complaint, many of these businesses did not exist.

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Can Small Business Owners Take Vacations? | business.com

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One of the upsides of running your own business is that you can set your own schedule and adjust it as needed. However, one of the downsides of being your own boss is that it’s not always easy to take time off. “You must plan ahead — not only for your relaxing trip but also for any work that needs to be done when you’re away,” explained DeAnna Spoerl, co-owner and director of client services at Bear Icebox Communications.

While this process requires diligent planning and thought, it is possible — and important — to take a break, for both you and your company. Here’s how you can take a worry-free vacation as a small business owner.

How to take a vacation as a small business owner

Follow these tips to ensure your business is taken care of without sacrificing your necessary R&R.

1. When possible, plan vacations around slow periods.

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10 Podcasts to Inspire Entrepreneurs | business.com

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If you’re looking for an easy way to turn your day and your mood around, listen to a podcast. There are few things better than enjoying a podcast on a walk or break from work. Thousands of podcasts are available on various topics, like business, personal development, and health and wellness. If you’re new to the world of podcasts, here are some of the top offerings you should check out for inspiration and entrepreneurial advice.

10 inspirational podcasts for entrepreneurs

Businesses thrive on creativity, innovation, and motivation. To stay inspired on the daily, listen to these thought-provoking podcasts.

1. The Happiness Lab

Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos hosts “The Happiness Lab.” In each episode, Dr. Santos explores the scientific research behind happiness and why so many people do the opposite of what will actually make them happy. She shares inspiring stories, motivational tips and interviews with noteworthy individuals like Rob Lowe, Michelle Kwan and Dr. Dan Gilbert. With more than 13,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.7 stars, listener response indicates this podcast is well worth your time.

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Best streaming devices for 2024: Apple TV, Roku, and more | Digital Trends

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There basically are two kinds of folks when it comes to smart TVs and how we use them to access all of our streaming services. There are those who just use whatever operating system is already built in, and those who prefer to plug in their own device.

That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with the former, especially since Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Google TV power so many smart TVs, with LG and Samsung picking up the slack with their own operating systems.

But then there are those who prefer to have a little more control and who want to use some other stick or dongle or box to stream their videos — and maybe do a good bit more. And there’s something to be said about treating your TV like it’s a dumb display, especially if it’s an older model and doesn’t have all those smart things built into it. That’s where all these options come in.

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How much Is Apple Music, and how can you get it for free? | Digital Trends

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Apple Music has become one of the top music streaming services globally, second only to Spotify, providing subscribers access to over 100 million songs, curated playlists, and exclusive content. Since its launch in 2015, Apple Music has consistently grown its library and features, seamlessly integrating with the broader Apple ecosystem to deliver a high-quality user experience. It has become a popular choice for music lovers and a strong competitor to other streaming platforms.

Apple Music’s pricing structure is a crucial part of its market strategy, aiming to balance affordability with its value proposition to attract a wide range of users, catering to individuals, families, and students.

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Public Relations: The Field in a Nutshell | The Startup Magazine

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Many people have heard of Public Relations (or ‘PR’ as it’s more commonly referred to), but most couldn’t tell you what this field is at the core. You may have heard about how PR can help your business, or perhaps you’ve heard about it being a lucrative career option in today’s age.

Having read this brief article, you’ll leave knowing what PR is all about and what the benefits are.

What is Public Relations?

Essentially, Public Relations refers to managing communications between an organization or business (or sometimes even an individual) and their client base or target audience. A PR team is there to build awareness and a positive association around their client/employer, working to shape and mold a given brand to align it with an overarching, global objective.

Naturally, this process combines many different practices at once, necessitating a wholly holistic approach. PR could be responsible for anything from copywriting, press release writing, organizational strategies, and really anything that can propel the brand’s image positively.

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