(Photo Illustration by Chesnot/Getty Images)
Here are five things in tech that happened in the past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
1 – These are the 40 best Google tools for productivity and marketing according to Search Engine Land.
The staff at tech website Search Engine Land recently put together a list of Google’s 40 Best Tools for Productivity and Marketing. The list includes tools like Gmail for your secure email service, Google Ads to target ideal customers, Google Alerts to help monitor your business reputation, Google Analytics to help measure website traffic and app usage. , and more. You can see the full list here. (Source: Search Engine Journal)
Why this is important to your business:
I was aware of all the tools (many free) that Google provides small businesses to help with productivity and marketing, but this great list compiled by Brian Frederick not only refreshed my memory, but also surprised me with some unknowns. . And wow… there are so many of them! If you’re running a small business, it’s worth taking some time to review these apps; you will be surprised too.
2 – American Express and TikTok launched the #ShopSmall Accelerator to help small businesses reach new audiences on Small Business Saturday.
American Express announced last week that it will launch #ShopSmall Accelerator in partnership with TikTok. The program aims to help small business owners broaden their audience to encourage a new generation to shop on Small Business Saturday. American Express supports small businesses year-round with its goal to drive $100 billion in small business spending between 2021 and 2025. (Source: Yahoo Finance)
Why this is important to your business:
Starting last week, the #ShopSmall Accelerator will include an offer for eligible small business owners to win a $100 TikTok ad credit. Additionally, small business owners will have access to tools and resources to think like a TikTok creator, including a tutorial at AmericanExpress.com/ShopSmallAccelerator on how your business can stand out on the platform. These are good incentives to help expand your business to TikTok’s millions of potential customers.
3 – KnowBe4 has launched a holiday kit with cybersecurity resources.
The KnowBe4 security platform recently announced the launch of a toolkit with new essential holiday resources. As the provider of the world’s largest simulated phishing and security awareness training platform, KnowBe4 launched the toolkit in an effort to help users stay protected during the cyber mayhem that the holidays bring. (Source: PRNewsWire)
Why this is important to your business:
As you probably know, ransomware and other malware attacks have skyrocketed in recent years, especially as many people work from home in unprotected environments. KnowBe4 has become a very popular tool among my clients who want to test their employees on the latest threats because many studies have shown that it is poor training and people’s mistakes that cause most of the security problems they experience. we face.
4 – GoFreight has raised $23 million to become the “Shopify of Freight.”
Startup GoFreight recently raised $23 million and aims to become the “Shopify of freight forwarding.” GoFreight plans to use the new funding to develop features that help with purchase order management, rate management, and smart quoting. (Source: TechCrunch)
Why this is important to your business:
This is a vertical application designed specifically for companies in the transportation, logistics, and freight forwarding industries with powerful features to help with shipping management, security, container tracking, booking, quoting, accounting, and generating from reports. The startup’s back-end software helps operations run more efficiently and its front-end software allows users to give quotes and set up shop in a matter of minutes.
5 – Amazon plans to test facial recognition technology to verify the identity of the seller.
Amazon recently announced plans to test counterfeit detection, facial recognition, and additional automated technology to provide an alternative to identity verification for online sellers. Initially, the test will be voluntary for prospective sellers based in the US. Those who do not want to participate will have the option to have a video call with human reviewers. Amazon said the biometric data will be used only to verify identity. (Source: GeekWire)
Why this is important to your business:
Like it or not, passwords will be a thing of the past for years to come. Amazon and other big brands are testing biometric security — fingerprints, eye scans, and facial recognition — as a more reliable way to validate a user’s identity. Ultimately, this will be something that your business will implement.
