Brian Meert's Blog, page 72

How to Protect Your Small Business During COVID-19

APR. 8, 2020

Jeremy Stenuit / Unsplash

The COVID-19 worldwide pandemic has placed many people’s lives on hold. Some have been sent home, out of work, due to reduction in the workforce. Some have been ordered to work remotely until the outbreak abates. Many businesses, both large and small, have furloughed employees, reduced hours of operation, or closed entirely. 

It is easy to panic during this trying and uncertain time, amid talks of a stagnant economy and a possible recession. Still, there are steps you can take to protect not only your small business but also your employees. 

Move All Marketing Efforts to Digital

According to Facebook, messaging usage has increased by 50% during the past month across its family of apps. Italy’s app usage increased by 70% and group call usage by a whopping 1,000%. People who are hunkering down at home flock to social media for entertainment. For this reason, it may be wise to move your marketing efforts to digital and advertise on spaces that most people are visiting, such as Facebook or Instagram. You may also want to concentrate your budget on Google Ads. 

Photo courtesy of Facebook Newsroom

If you’re reducing your advertising budget, you can still use social media for your organic marketing campaigns. For example, you can use Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to keep your customers informed of business updates, whether that’s regarding change in office hours or efficiency due to workforce constraints. Additionally, you can use email marketing to send notices of sympathy to customers, letting them know you are with them every step of the way during these uncertain times. 

Defer Filing Federal Income Taxes 

Because of COVID-19, the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service moved the tax filing due date to July 15, 2020. This change allows businesses to defer taxes past the original April 15 deadline without incurring late fees, penalties, or interests, regardless of the amount owed. Revenue may be slim at a time like this, and filing taxes closer to the July 15 date may save extra cash needed to maintain business operations. 

Apply for Financial Aid, Loans, or Ad Credits

If money is currently an issue, it may be wise to apply to several grant and financial aid programs that will keep your business afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a list:

Google Ad Credits: Google is giving $340 million in ad credits to small- and medium-sized businesses that have been advertising with the company since the beginning of 2019. Eligible businesses will receive an award notification in their ad accounts. These ad credits can be used at any point until the end of 2020. 

Facebook Small Business Grant: Facebook is giving $100 million in cash and ad credits to businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The social media company plans to distribute the funds to 30,000 businesses in countries where it operates. 

Facebook Newsroom Grant: Facebook is also giving $100 million in grant money to local newsrooms, as well as newsrooms from across the globe. 

Yelp’s $25 Million Business Relief: Yelp is providing $25 million in relief services for nightlife businesses and local and independent restaurants. The relief comes in the form of free advertising, products, and services and waived advertising fees. 

Economic Injury Disaster Loan: The loan is granted to businesses struggling to overcome economic and revenue losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Small business owners can apply for a loan of up to $10,000. The program gives working capital loans of up to $2 million and does not require the loan advance to be repaid. 

Paycheck Protection Program: This program helps employees keep their jobs. Small businesses and other organizations, like some nonprofits and independent contractors, may be eligible for the program, which offers loans of up to $10 million, loan payments deferred for six months, and partial loan forgiveness for businesses that maintain their workforce.

You can apply to numerous other programs, such as debt relief programs. See the extended list here. 

Cut Unnecessary Expenses

A time like this may lead to slim wallets. To keep your business afloat, you may need to cut unnecessary expenses, including subscription services. You may be subscribed to an automation service such as Hootsuite or Meet Edgar; reports such as Emarketer or Statista; or data tools such as Ahrefs or BuzzSumo. Evaluate your spending, find areas that are not immediate needs, and cut unnecessary expenses. 

Move Employees to Remote Work

With public spaces, recreational areas, and non-essential businesses closed, working remotely is now the new norm. To protect the health of your employees, place workers, if their jobs can be done virtually, on remote work. This vital step prevents the virus from spreading throughout your company. It also places your company in a positive light. After all, you don’t want to be that boss who orders employees to work on site even if that meant risking their lives. 

Of course, when switching to remote work, send employees home with equipment that will help them succeed in working from home. Your employees may, for example, need to take their monitors to work more efficiently. They may also need office supplies, such as printing papers, pens, notebooks, or folders. 

Granted, issues of productivity may come to mind when requiring employees to work from home. You can issue mandatory daily or weekly meetings on Zoom. If your employees are hourly workers, you can also order them to document their hours on Toggl. 

Limit Number of On-Site Workers

Of course, not all jobs can be done from home. Some employees may be required to work on site. When requiring employees to work from the office, make sure to establish safety rules. 

The CDC recommends that people, when in public spaces, keep themselves six feet away from strangers to prevent contracting the virus. Because the virus spreads through respiratory droplets, those who are in close proximity to strangers coughing or sneezing can become infected. 

Businesses, such as grocery stores, now limit the number of people who can enter a building at a time. They also require people to stand in line six feet away as they wait to enter the premises. You, too, should employ the same protective measures by limiting the number of people who enter your building. You should also keep desks six feet away from one another, as recommended by the CDC. 

If an employee falls ill, send that worker home. 

Require On-Site Workers to Wear Masks

During the first three months of the pandemic, the CDC advised the healthy against wearing face masks, reserving them instead for healthcare workers, the sick, and the people caring for the sick. However, as of last week, the CDC  requires the use of face masks while in public, whether that’s sending mail at the post office or going to the grocery store. 

You, too, should require on-site workers to wear masks, especially if they are working in close proximity under the same roof. Additionally, put up informative posters about the ways they can protect themselves from spreading the virus. 

To further protect employees from COVID-19 at work, you should also provide safety essentials on site, including hand sanitizers, hand soap, and disinfecting wipes. However, since these products are low in supply but high in demand, they may be stolen. Make sure to keep track of inventory. 

Offer Services Online

With people social distancing and quarantining at home, fewer people are going out, limiting person-to-person contact. In fact, some industries are experiencing an increase in sales, including meal kits, which according to Emarketer has received an influx of requests from customers. 

Now that most tasks are done virtually, it may help your business to pivot to digital. If you own a retail business, focus most of your efforts on e-commerce, offering customers easy ways to purchase online. If you host in-person classes, you may want to run online courses instead. 

Find ways to offer services virtually so that a loss in foot traffic to your store will not lead to a loss of revenue. 

Maintain Relationships with Customers

Loyal customers are vital at a time like this. As people cut spending to save money during a financially uncertain time, you will rely on long-term customers to maintain your business. Fostering trust and loyalty is a life-long process that should have started the moment you acquired that customer. Continue to maintain relationships with customers and find new ways to foster brand trust and loyalty. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post How to Protect Your Small Business During COVID-19 appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

Facebook Ads for Local Businesses: Increasing Customers and Store Traffic

APR. 7, 2020

Tim Mossholder / Unsplash

Brick-and-mortar businesses have a lot of competition. They compete against big brands that share their audience, and they also compete with online businesses that have convenience and accessibility on their side. Some businesses can only function in a physical space, though, like hair salons and restaurants, and others may have online components but still need foot traffic in their shops. Luckily, there are ways to craft Facebook ads for local businesses.

The Main Goals for Local Businesses

When creating an ad campaign to support your local business, there are two goals that you should prioritize.

1. Increasing Brand Awareness

Let consumers know that you exist. They have to know about your shop that’s accessible to them. The next time they need what you sell, they’ll already be familiar with your business. 

2. Increase Social Proof

When your business has social proof, such as testimonials or positive reviews, other locals will trust you. They’ll see that people in their area have great experiences with your store, and they’ll assume they will, too. 

Here’s why ads with social proof work: Facebook ads for local businesses must spread the word to get people to trust you. You can’t run an ad with a magic link that places people at your front door when they click it, and you don’t necessarily want to send them to your website, either. Instead, use ads to permeate the minds of potential customers so they’ll be able to recall your company name when they’re primed to shop.

How Engagement Ads Help You Reach Your Main Goals

Although you can run a brand awareness ad on Facebook, there’s another type of campaign that will increase both brand awareness and social proof: the engagement campaign.

When you run an engagement ad, Facebook targets people who are most likely to engage with your ad, whether that’s commenting, liking, or sharing. When people engage more with a post, others have a better likelihood of seeing it, too, especially if the post is often shared. Plus, anybody who sees the post will also see that it’s getting a lot of attention. 

How to Build Engagement Facebook Ads That Work

Here are the four steps to building a Facebook engagement ad with high potential.

1. Choose the Right CTA Button

Your CTA button must accurately reflect the action you want customers to take. If you want to increase online reservations for your restaurant or hair salon, then add a “Book Now” button. If you want customers to learn more about your business, then use a “Learn More” CTA.  

2. Select “Automatic Placements”

Let Facebook decide where to run your ad. This way, your budget will be optimized and your ad will be placed for the best results possible. Automatic placement determines the best reach for the lowest overall cost, so even if one type of placement costs more than another, Facebook chooses based on the lowest average cost for the entire campaign.

3. Set a Daily Budget

Instead of using up a lifetime budget within just a couple of days, set a daily budget so the ad runs every single day (or every day you’re open). You’ll be able to manually end the ad when it’s time.

4. Choose Geographic Limitations

You need to increase foot traffic, so you should only run your ad to reach people in your area. Target potential customers within a 20-foot range of your business — most people aren’t going to drive from farther away, so it’s not worth your ad budget to reach those people.

Using Audience Insights to Target Your Ad

Although Facebook can handle a lot of the ad work for you, like finding people who are most likely to respond to your ad, you’ll have to set a lot of the targeting criteria on your own. If you’re not sure who, exactly, makes up your audience, Facebook’s built-in audience insights can help. Go to Ads Manager, then click the menu button on the top-left corner of the page — it’s a square made out of nine dots. Scroll down to the Analyze and Report section, then choose Audience Insights. Here, you’ll see demographic information about your followers, including age group, education level, gender, job title, and relationship status.

Use this information in two ways:

Choose the same demographics when targeting your ad audienceUse the insight to craft your ad or post’s message

Don’t let Facebook’s insights replace your own savvy, though. Your goal is to increase foot traffic and customers. If your Facebook page has an almost 50-50 split between men and women, but lately you’ve been promoting products that appeal more to women, run your ad to women only. Audience Insights tells you about your current audience, but if you want to expand your audience into other age groups or genders, target based on your goals.

Setting a Budget

When trying to set a budget for your Facebook ads, it’s helpful to know the lifetime value (LTV) of an average customer. Here’s the formula to figure it out:

(Average Sale per Customer x Monthly Frequency) x 12 Months = Annual Customer Value(Annual Customer Value x 5 Years) x2 Referrals = LTV

Knowing how much you make per customer per year or longer can help you determine how much to spend on ads and still make them worth your while. 

Final Thoughts

Creating a successful Facebook ad campaign for a local business has a lot to do with targeting and distribution. Give it time, too. You may not see results after 24 or 48 hours, so run it for two weeks before ending it. You’ll have enough time to collect data that can be analyzed and used to make informed decisions about what to change.

By Lindsay Pietroluongo

The post Facebook Ads for Local Businesses: Increasing Customers and Store Traffic appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

Resources for Businesses in Need of Financial Aid During COVID-19

MAR. 31, 2020

Pixabay / Pexels

As businesses strive to keep their customers and employees healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic, many have had to shut down indefinitely, causing financial strain for everyone involved. Owners are wondering how to stay afloat when business has severely slowed or completely stalled, and they’re also unsure of how to support employees who aren’t allowed to work. There are a number of resources that help businesses of all sizes, from freelancers to corporations, during this trying time. 

Tax Filing Extensions and Deferments

Taxes are now due on July 15 instead of April 15, giving businesses (and all taxpayers) extra time to file without paying interest or penalties. Additionally, corporations can defer up to $10 million of payments they owe to the IRS. The deferment is interest-free and lasts for 90 days.

Tax Credits and Exemptions

Businesses with fewer than 500 employees may be eligible for tax credits that will cover two weeks of paid sick leave for employees who are quarantined, have a sick family member, or are affected by school closings. Furthermore, the Labor Department may be able to exempt businesses with fewer than 50 employees from abiding by the paid-leave mandate if it poses a significant threat to the company.

The New CARES Act

The CARES Act is designed to “provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.” There are a number of actions and resources for businesses (as well as individuals) included in the CARES Act, including

LoansLoan forgivenessDelayed tax payments

While this article includes some procedures from the act, there’s a lot more to know. Major news outlets are reporting CARES Act updates, and you may want to activate Google Alert for those stories to hear the latest information.

Learn more here.

U.S. Small Business Administration

President Trump has signed a bill to allow the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to issue approximately $7 billion in low-interest loans. Below are some of the main ways the SBA is able to support small businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans

This option is for businesses struggling to overcome economic and revenue losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Small business owners can apply for a loan of up to $10,000. The website also says that the loan program gives working capital loans of up to $2 million and that the loan advance will not have to be repaid. Find the application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan here.

Paycheck Protection Program

The goal of the Paycheck Protection Program is to help companies protect employees so they can keep their jobs. Small businesses and other organizations, like some nonprofits and independent contractors, may be eligible for the program, which includes

Loans of up to $10 millionLoan payments deferred for six monthsPartial loan forgiveness for businesses that maintain their workforce

You can learn more about the Paycheck Protection Program here. It seems that the best way to find out how to apply is to get in touch with your local SBA office.

SBA Debt Relief

Under the Debt Relief initiative, the SBA will pay the principal and interest on 7(a) loans. How long the SBA will make loan payments is based on when the loan was issued.

For further explanation about loan options and for more financial aid help, visit the SBA website. Learn about additional loan types from the SBA here.

GrantSpace.org’s List of Grants and Financial Resources

GrantSpace.org has a dedicated page with emergency financial resources to help with hardships related to COVID-19. The list of grants is divided into categories, with specific resources for nonprofits and small businesses. The list is being updated as GrantSpace becomes aware of new opportunities.

Free Advertising for Small- and Medium-Sized Businesses

Three of the biggest internet platforms are helping small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) continue to run ads when budgets have dried up:

Facebook: Facebook is giving $100 million in cash grants and ad credits for eligible small businesses. Google: Google is giving SMBs free ad credits that can be used through the end of the year. Visit this information page to find out if you qualify.Yelp: Yelp is supporting independent hospitality businesses, namely restaurants and nightlife venues, by waiving fees for advertising.



Help for Freelancers, Independent Contractors, and Gig Workers

Even when SMBs receive financial assistance, freelancers, independent contractors, and gig workers often end up on their own, especially when they’re not eligible for unemployment. As part of the relief initiatives, people who are self-employed may be eligible for unemployment benefits. How much they’re able to receive depends on past income, and there’s also an additional $600 per week offered.

Note that some gig workers aren’t covered. For example, freelancers who can work from home and recent gig workers trying to find jobs are not eligible.

Final Thoughts: Tap Into Local Resources

In addition to staying on top of what the federal government is doing to help businesses get through this time of financial uncertainty, it pays to tune into what’s happening on a more local level. There are a lot of communities and organizations at the state, county, and city levels that are offering financial assistance programs, as well as free training and resources. Zenefits has a useful and thorough chart that lists different financial aid opportunities in each state. 

AdvertiseMint will also continue to publish advice for businesses and professionals in navigating through the pandemic. Currently, we have tips for working remotely, making money as an influencer despite COVID-19 disruptions, and protecting oneself from the virus while working onsite. We also closely monitor Facebook’s press page for updates. We have covered delays in ad review due to COVID-19, grants for newsrooms and small businesses, and the list of COVID-19 ads and posts banned from the platform.

By Lindsay Pietroluongo

The post Resources for Businesses in Need of Financial Aid During COVID-19 appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

Facebook Messaging Usage Increased More Than 50% Amid Pandemic

MAR. 30, 2020

Robin Worrall / Unsplash

COVID-19 prompted major changes in the lives of Americans, many of whom are now working remotely and staying at home as much as possible while recreational areas, shops, restaurants, and bars are closed. With more time spent at home, people are flocking to social media apps for entertainment. 

Facebook’s findings show an increase in social media usage. According to a Facebook Newsroom blog post, the social media company has seen increased usage of messaging tools by more than 50% over the past month. The surge in usage comes from countries hit hardest by the pandemic. 

Time spent across Facebook’s apps increased by 70% in Italy, where all movements of people have been prohibited. While Instagram and Facebook Live views doubled in a single week, messaging increased more than 50% and group calls increased by more than 1,000% during the past month. 

Photo courtesy of Facebook Newsroom

Despite these astronomical numbers, Facebook’s business is still adversely affected by the worldwide pandemic. According to the Newsroom post, the social media company has “seen a weakening in…ads business in countries taking aggressive actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

Since Facebook doesn’t monetize many of its messaging platforms, the networking company doesn’t financially benefit from the surge in messaging usage. 

Facebook did not disclose how much damage COVID-19 has caused on its ad revenue, but investors will soon find out during the Q2 earnings report coming up sometime between April and June.

How Facebook Protects Businesses and Users

COVID-19 has upended the lives of many, including small business owners with decreased store traffic, local newsrooms with limited budgets, and employees furloughed or laid off due to reductions in the workforce. Facebook created multiple initiatives in an effort to help those negatively affected by the outbreak. 

Giving $100 Million in Grants for Small Businesses

Earlier this month, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg announced that the social media company is investing $100 million in grants and ad credits for small businesses affected by COVID-19. According to Sandberg, 30,000 businesses within the 30 countries where Facebook operates are eligible. 

The grant was created through the company’s Facebook Small Business Grants Program. Although the application has not yet been opened, interested business owners can monitor the site for updates or sign up for its newsletter. 

Giving $100 Million in Grants for Newsrooms

Small businesses aren’t the only ones affected by COVID-19. News organizations, especially local newsrooms, have been hit hard by the outbreak. Facebook is providing $100 million in grants through the Facebook Journalism project. 

Specifically, the social media company will invest $25 million in local newsrooms and $75 in news organizations across the globe. So far Facebook has given news organizations across the United States and Canada $5,000 to maintain operations. The Post Courier, Southeast Missourian, and El Paso Matters are among those organizations. 

Banning COVID-19 Ads and Content

To protect users from misinformation, Facebook has banned posts and ads with false claims about COVID-19, including conspiracy theories and false claims about cures and preventative methods. Facebook is currently working with third-party fact-checkers to reduce misinformation on its platform. Ads that use COVID-19 to incite fear and urgency for financial gain have also been banned.

Additionally, Facebook banned the sale of high-demand items that are low in supply due to the pandemic. Specifically, hand sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, COVID-19 test kits, and medical face masks are not allowed to appear in ads, commerce listings (Marketplace and Groups), and feed posts. This move is likely a result of the price gouging that runs rampant online. 

Creating Educational Pop Ups Across Apps



Photo courtesy of Facebook Newsroom

In January, Facebook launched a pop-up that contains reliable information about COVID-19 from sources such as the CDC and WHO. These pop-ups appear on the apps of users in countries hit hard by the pandemic and users who search for COVID-19 information. Facebook also launched the COVID-19 Information Center. Appearing on top of News Feeds, this contains real-time updates about the global pandemic. 

Allowing Employees to Work from Home

To protect the health of workers, Facebook ordered its employees to work from home. This includes contract workers, freelancers, and anyone who can complete their jobs remotely. 

This move has caused problems with Facebook’s ad and content reviews, however. With fewer employees working onsite and increased reliance on technology, the review process is slowing down, causing delays in reviews for ads and commerce listings. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post Facebook Messaging Usage Increased More Than 50% Amid Pandemic appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

Facebook Gives $100M in Grants to the News Industry

MAR. 30, 2020

Absolut Vision / Unsplash

COVID-19 has upended the lives of many Americans, as the nation leads in the number of confirmed cases across the globe. Remote work, Facebook ad review delays, disruption in the influencer industry, and financial uncertainty are only a few of the problems caused by this worldwide pandemic. With people practicing social distancing and with the government’s mandate to close restaurants, bars, and public areas, the economy has slowed significantly, affecting businesses, including news organizations.

To help news outlets during this trying time, Facebook is providing $100 million in grants through the Facebook Journalism Project. 

According to Facebook’s announcement posted on the website, the social media company will invest $25 million in local newsrooms and another $75 million in news organizations across the globe.

Facebook is investing in the news industry not only to support journalism but also to help readers stay informed of news related to the COVID-19 outbreak, says the social media company’s announcement:

At a time when journalism is needed more than ever, ad revenues are declining due to the economic impact of the virus. Local journalists are being hit especially hard, even as people turn to them for critical information to keep their friends, families and communities safe.”

Facebook has already provided financial aid to 50 local newsrooms in the United States and Canada, giving $5,000 for each organization, including The Post and Courier in South Carolina, Southeast Missourian in Missouri, and El Paso Matters in Texas. With Facebook’s grant, The Post and Courier has taken down its paywall and will cover travel and remote-work costs while Southeast Missourian plans to improve remote-work technology. El Paso Matters plans to hire freelance reporters and translators and expand COVID-19 news coverage in El Paso.

Providing aid to newsrooms is only one of the initiatives Facebook has launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Facebook has also created a $100 million grant for small businesses affected by the outbreak.

According to COO Sheryl Sandberg, who announced the grant on a Facebook post, 30,000 businesses in the 30 countries where Facebook operates are eligible:

We’ve listened to small businesses to understand how we can best help them. We’ve heard loud and clear that financial support could enable them to keep the lights on and pay people who can’t come to work. That’s why today I’m announcing that Facebook is investing $100 million to help 30,000 small businesses in over 30 countries where our employees live and work.”

Facebook has also focused efforts on reducing COVID-19 misinformation, fear mongering for financial gain, and price gouging of high demand products — hand sanitizers, face masks, disinfecting wipes — on its site. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post Facebook Gives $100M in Grants to the News Industry appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

The Benefits and Disadvantages of AI Chatbots [Infographic]

MAR. 26, 2020

Austin Distel / Unsplash

In these fast-paced times, customers need quick solutions. They often ditch traditional customer service channels and visit a company’s website or social media account to get quick answers to their questions. At this crucial point, a delay in response leads to a dissatisfied customer. This, in turn, can be a disaster for your business.

In the age of the internet, word gets around fast. Even one dissatisfied customer can do a lot of harm to your brand’s reputation. He or she can, for example, write a negative review that dissuades potential customers from purchasing your products or services. 

AI chatbots are the best available solution for businesses with problems in slow customer service. If you want to know whether AI chatbots are a boon for or bane of your business, read the advantages and disadvantages discussed here.

Advantages

Let’s begin with the advantages.

1. AI Chatbots Service More Customers

AI chatbots are like virtual customer service representatives, always ready to answer questions. They can attend to more customers and give more replies, even with a big surge of traffic to your website. 

2. AI Chatbots Collect and Analyze Data

Chatbots can gather data and create detailed reports on customers’ behavior and preferences. They can extract information about those browsing customers, including the products they are looking for. Chatbots can then recommend products based on customers’ search activities. 

3. AI Chatbots Reduce Human Resource Costs

A company can reduce the number of employees in its customer support team by introducing AI chatbots. This saves costs that go into retaining an employee while increasing the company’s overall ROI. 

Disadvantages

Now, the disadvantages.

1. AI Chatbots Lack Human Empathy

AI chatbots can imitate human responses, but they are still far from imitating human emotions. Many customers want to connect with brands on a level that is not yet possible with AI chatbots.

2. AI Chatbots Are Expensive

If your business is large and complex, then you need one of the advanced models of AI chatbots, which may burn a hole in your pocket. Also, the installation charges can be expensive. 

3. AI Chatbots’ Decision-Making Are Limited

AI chatbots, which specialize on automated replies, are still incapable of making immediate, complicated decisions. Although they can handle simple queries, they may fail to address complex requests. Most customers want immediate solutions, and if they don’t get it, they will feel dissatisfied.

Final Thoughts

AI chatbots are the future of technological advancement, and despite their limitations, many companies invest in them because they are an effective way to attend to your customers and resolve issues quickly and effectively.

If you have thought it through, and you think that AI chatbots will be a boon for your business, check out the infographic below to get a better understanding of AI chatbots’ advantages and disadvantages.

Infographic



Image Courtesy: shanebarker.com

The above infographic first appeared on shanebarker.com , courtesy of digital marketing consultant, Shane Barker.

The post The Benefits and Disadvantages of AI Chatbots [Infographic] appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

The List of COVID-19 Ads and Posts Banned by Facebook

MAR. 25, 2020

Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash

COVID-19 is changing people’s lifestyles. Many have been staying at home for days to avoid the spread of the virus. Companies have ordered their employees to work from home. Hiring departments have forgone recruiting new talent. Businesses have lost customers.

Facebook’s evolving policies are also on the list of changes precipitated by the pandemic. To protect its users, the social media company has banned certain ads and posts from the platform. Here is the list. 

Posts and Ads with False Claims about COVID-19

Facebook has struggled with misinformation over the past several years, beginning with the fake Russian ads targeting the US presidential election back in 2016. Facebook responded by adding more banned items to its list. 

Now Facebook will remove content that spreads misinformation about COVID-19, including conspiracy theories and false claims about cures and preventative methods. One pervasive myth claimed that consuming alcohol reduced the risk of catching the virus. Some people have even been profiting from the pandemic by selling fake cures. 

Facebook is working with third-party fact checkers to remove misinformation about COVID-19. Once fact checkers identify a post as false, Facebook will limit its distribution on the platform. Facebook will also notify users who shared the article that it has been labeled as false. 

Ads and Listings for Face Masks

Facebook is temporarily banning listings and ads for medical face masks, whether those listings appear on a seller’s Timeline, in buy-and-sell groups, or in Marketplace. This change is likely a response to the price gouging that runs rampant within online platforms, including Amazon and Ebay. 

Facebook, too, has to contend with price gouging, and its efforts against this unethical practice seems to be paying off. A search for “face masks” in Marketplace reaps zero results.

A search for “face masks” in Marketplace reaps zero results.

Because medical masks are in short supply, this precious resource must be reserved for medical professionals, the ill, and people caring for the sick. Price gouging and hoarding compromise the safety of the community, so it’s no surprise Facebook is imposing a ban on this product.

Ads Exploiting COVID-19 for Financial Gain

With nations across the globe scrambling to decrease the spread of COVID-19, people are panicked. During times of great fear and uncertainty come those who seek financial opportunities.

Facebook is now banning ads that use COVID-19 as a way to increase financial gain; for example, ads that incite panic or urgency while presenting its products or services as a solution. The ads of retailers selling face masks, for instance, will not be approved if they guarantee the masks to prevent the spread of the virus or if they claim the masks to be the only one of its kind left.

Although Facebook did not state how it will monitor ads for exploitative practices, it will likely flag ads containing the words “COVID-19” or “coronavirus.”

Ads and Listings for Hand Sanitizers, Disinfecting Wipes, and Test Kits

Facebook is banning ads and commerce listings for hand sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, and COVID-19 test kits, whether those listings appear on Facebook groups, Timelines, or Marketplace. The ban is likely a direct result of price gouging. Items such as toilet paper, face masks, hand sanitizers, and disinfecting wipes are particularly attractive to people who price gouge. 

A Marketplace seller price-gouging hand sanitizer.



What Happens If You Were Mistakenly Reported

Facebook relies on content reviewers and technology to keep its platform safe for users. However, with COVID-19 forcing workers to stay at home, Facebook ordered its reviewers to work remotely. With a reduced workforce and an increased reliance on automated systems, content and ad reviews will be slow — Facebook admits that mistakes will happen during the process.

If your content or ad was flagged for any of the aforementioned reasons — price gouging; misinformation; or the mention of face masks, hand sanitizers, or disinfecting wipes — your appeal for a second review will be denied due to a reduced workforce.

According to Facebook:

Normally when we remove content, we offer the person who posted it the option to request that we review the content again if they think we made a mistake. Now, given our reduced workforce, we’ll give people the option to tell us that they disagree with our decision and we’ll monitor that feedback to improve our accuracy, but we likely won’t review content a second time.”

To follow the changes Facebook is implementing due to COVID-19, visit Facebook Newsroom. 

By Anne Felicitas

The post The List of COVID-19 Ads and Posts Banned by Facebook appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Make Money as an Influencer Despite COVID-19 Disruptions

MAR. 24, 2020

Hipster Mum / Unsplasj

With orders to stay at home and practice social distancing, businesses across different industries are taking a hit. Restaurants and bars have been ordered to close. Events, such as Coachella and the 2020 Olympics, have been postponed. Businesses are shrinking, sending some Americans home without work. 

The influencer industry has also been affected by COVID-19. Travel influencers, in particular, are experiencing the consequences caused by the pandemic. In a Business Insider report, influencers talk about sponsorship decline due to the outbreak. According to these influencers, sponsorship deals and events have been canceled. One influencer who experienced these changes is Oneika Raymond (@oneikatraveller on Instagram) and Lauren Bullen (@gypsea_lust).

“I think a lot of people in the travel industry are holding their breath,” said Raymond to Business Insider. “Companies are reluctant to take on anything new and therefore that is impacting the income of creators.”

To make matters worse, cost per post on social media is predicted to decrease if the pandemic ushers nations into a recession, at least according to influencer marketing agency Izea in the same Business Insider report. Looking back at the previous recession, Izea found that the average cost of sponsored posts fell by 62.7% between 2008 and 2010. 

Toshiko Shek, content creator and photographer

There is also worry that more brands will stop production in shoots, eliminating the services of influencers. Content creator and photographer Toshiko Shek (@itsnotheritsme on Instagram) shares her thoughts on the effects of the pandemic with AdvertiseMint.

“I think everyone will be affected, but that hasn’t happened yet,” says Shek, who still receives steady work from her projects, which she has been doing from home. “I know brands stopped production in terms of photoshoots, so that means eventually they won’t be uploading new products to their sites. When there’s no products, then you don’t need influencers to promote.” 

How to Make Money as an Influencer During COVID-19 Outbreak

Travel and events may have been canceled, but there are still ways to maintain a livelihood as an influencer, especially since many of them have been working from home long before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Host Classes

With the government mandate to stay home, people have more free time than ever. They can only binge-watch so many movies and scroll through so many TikTok dance crazes. They are bored, looking for new ways to amuse themselves at home. 

Now is the best time for your followers to pick up a new hobby. You can host classes online, charging a fee for each small course. As an influencer, you’re an expert of your craft, whether that’s in traveling, parenting, cooking, photography, or content creation — that’s what people follow you for. 

You can create courses using an online platform, such as Udemy, Teachable, Thinkific, or Skillshare. If you’re inexperienced in building courses, you can visit YouTube for complete tutorials, such as Ferdy Korpershoek’s 40-minute guide that will help you create classes on Udemy.

Sign Up for Affiliate Marketing

Followers trust your expertise and your recommendations. Why not use your power of influence to grow your affiliate marketing business? As an affiliate marketer, you will promote products on your social media accounts, directing followers to an affiliate link that takes them to the page where they can purchase your products. For each sale, you earn commission. 

Granted, affiliate marketing is made more difficult by social media platforms like Instagram, where links in captions are not clickable. A problem like this demands creative solutions. Ask followers to message you for the affiliate link. Alternatively, include your link in your bio. Surely, you can conceive of better workarounds than those two. 

Raise Funds on Patreon

Many influencers have succeeded from creating original entertainment content. Baby Ariel is an example, who boasts 9.5 million followers on Instagram and 31.3 million on TikTok at the time of writing. According to Marketing Hub’s TikTok Money Calculator, Baby Ariel can earn between $18,297 to $30,496 per post. 

Create entertaining content and request funding from fans on Patreon. Many content creators use that platform, including people’s favorite YouTube guy group, The Try Guys. On Patreon you can also create membership subscriptions, offering exclusive content to fans. 

Do Your Own Shoots

Because brands likely won’t be calling you in to the studio for photoshoots, you’ll have to create your own shoots at home. Many influencers have been doing this for years, using their space, decor, and props as backdrops. Although you can solicit the help of your spouse, roommate, or family member, you can also use a handy tripod to take your photos. Set your camera to “timer” or purchase a remote control shutter release.

It is also recommended that you purchase a lighting kit if natural lighting is unavailable, which is often the case indoors. 

Sell E-products

E-products, or digital products, are easy to create and easy to sell. They can be e-books, guides, reports, studies, organizational templates, or lookbooks. You can create, produce, market, and sell these products online, across the globe, without the hassle of shipping and handling. For example, you can create a lookbook using your own photos in InDesign. If you don’t have experience with Photoshop or InDesign, you can hire a designer on Upwork or Fiverr. 

Start a Podcast

Creating a Podcast has dual benefits. Not only will you be marketing your personal brand, but you will also be making money from each episode. Charge subscribers a small fee to download and listen. 

Create a podcast based on your expertise. Julie Solomon, a digital marketer and PR professional, focuses mainly on helping influencers hone their craft. Focus your podcast on a niche or topic you know well. If you’re experienced in fashion, talk about fashion. If in health and wellness, give tips on how to live a healthier lifestyle. 

Of course, many podcasts feature guests. However, social distancing is one of the greatest weapons against the spread of COVID-19. Instead of bringing guests into your home, schedule video calls. 

Accept Sponsored Blog Posts

Many travel influencers keep a blog. If you also have an active blog with a high-ranking domain, accept sponsored guest posts. Marketers often reach out to bloggers whose platforms they deem beneficial to their SEO efforts. These marketers will pay you a fee to create an original article for your website, with a link to their own.

However, keep your sponsored blogs to an appropriate amount. Your blog should have a healthy mix of non-sponsored and sponsored content. Otherwise, your readers may catch on and lose trust in your brand. 

The COVID-19 outbreak has upended the lives of many, and the influencer business is only one among several industries affected by the pandemic. With people staying home, consuming more online content, now is the best time to redirect your efforts to digital.

By Anne Felicias

The post How to Make Money as an Influencer Despite COVID-19 Disruptions appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Work Remotely During the COVID-19 Pandemic

MAR. 24, 2020

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The COVID-19 pandemic has made it a requirement for many workers to leave the office indefinitely and work remotely. If you’ve never worked from home before or you’ve only spent the rare sick day or blizzard working from home, switching to full-time remote work is a considerable change. By following best practices, you can continue to perform your job, contribute to your company, and connect with your team.

Commit to the Initiatives Required for Remote Work

When the entire team works remotely, new and different protocols are put in place. Everyone has to understand the protocols, how to enact them and what’s expected of them. Initiatives may include

A communication tool that shows each person’s availability and status, like SlackQuick morning check-ins with the boss to let him or her know you’re presentRegularly scheduled team calls through a video service like ZoomShared calendars or project workflows using a tool like AsanaTime tracking via a tool like Toggl that lets employers see how long you’ve spent on different tasks

When employees have to use a new tool, training may be required. Also, there should be guidance on expectations for each tool. For example, how available should the team be on Slack? Should the status be “away” when doing deep work on a project? 

Focus As Though You’re at the Office



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Being at home means you’re surrounded by distractions and household responsibilities all day long. You still have to stick to a work schedule, though, which requires a lot of discipline. Keep your routine the same as when you worked in an office and make sure you have a dedicated workspace free of distractions. Get up, shower, and get ready round the time you normally do. Get coffee before starting your day — stick to the rituals you have before work.

Also, if you have to “go to work” before making the bed and washing the dishes, then do it — you wouldn’t show up late to the office, so you can’t show up late to your at-home worspace, either. The best option is to set up a spare room as an office where you can concentrate during work mode and leave behind during off hours.

Make Your Office Conducive to Productivity

Squeezing your workspace into a corner of the basement isn’t a good idea, just like working in a tiny office with poor lighting wouldn’t be healthy in the workplace. Your home office has to support your focus, mood, and productivity. Here are a few tips to get the basics right:

Your desk and chair should be at the right height to prevent eye and back strain.Create a space that’s well lit with natural lighting if possible. You can also purchase a lamp that mimics natural light.If you have a window with a beautiful view, that’s great, but if not, put a couple of motivational or joyful images within your line of sight.You should be able to charge your electronics as you’re using them. Otherwise, you’ll have to take a break from work every time your laptop battery runs out.Replicate the setup you have at work, such as dual monitors, cold water always within reach, a fan to drown out noise. Whatever makes you feel comfortable at work will also help you work from home.

Even if you’re limited when it comes to where you can set up office space, it has to be supportive of work — if the area is depressing or uncomfortable, you won’t get enough done.

Practice Professional Video Meeting Etiquette



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Holding a meeting via video is different from having in-person meetings. You look right into the camera the entire time, and everyone else can see and hear you and your surroundings for the duration of the meeting. Since you’re home, a lot is going on that doesn’t happen at the office: Dogs are barking, children are laughing, an Amazon delivery is being dropped off. Here’s how to cut down the noise:

Make sure the setting is quiet. Shut the door, close the windows, and tell whomever you live with to please keep it down for the next hour.Your backdrop should be neutral and professional instead of busy and distracting. Don’t set up in your child’s room with stuffed animals in the background. Don’t set up in front of the hallway either, where people may be coming in and out.Silence your phone to prevent phone calls and notifications from interrupting your meeting. Mute your microphone when you’re not speaking to prevent background noise from disrupting your call.Wear headphones: You will hear everyone better, and your colleagues will hear you more clearly, too.Don’t look in a million places, shift in your seat or fidget too often during the meeting.

Also, managers should reconsider holding video meetings first thing in the morning, especially on Mondays. Even if that’s the norm at work, assume that some people are going to adopt a more flexible routine when working from home. While they may be focused and ready to work, they may not be 100% presentable at 8:30 a.m. 

Final Thoughts



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Even if you’ve never worked from home, remote work is not a new concept. There are a lot of people who have been working remotely for years, and they can offer all sorts of insight, tips, and tricks. If you struggle with a particular aspect of working from home, chances are people faced with the same struggle have found a solution you can apply. Having to unexpectedly work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic means everyone will experience a learning curve. Assess what isn’t working well, discuss it with your employer or team, and then try a new tactic.

By Lindsay Pietroluongo

The post How to Work Remotely During the COVID-19 Pandemic appeared first on AdvertiseMint.

How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19 at Work

MAR. 23, 2020

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According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), avoiding exposure to COVID-19 is the best way to protect yourself from the virus. This may mean practicing social distancing or self-quarantine, avoiding crowded areas, or working from home.  

Of course, not everyone has the luxury of doing remote work. Unlike Facebook’s content reviewers who were sent home because of the pandemic, some people are required to be on site, including health care professionals, retail clerks, and restaurant employees.

You can protect yourself from COVID-19 at work. To understand these methods, you must first understand how COVID-19 spreads. 

According to the CDC, COVID-19 mainly spreads from person to person. You can catch the virus if you’re in close contact with people who are less than six feet away. You can also catch it through respiratory droplets produced from coughing or sneezing. If someone coughs or sneezes in your direction, those respiratory droplets may land in your mouth or nose or inhaled into your lungs. 

The CDC explains it well in this one-minute video:

How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19

Again, your best chance of protection is to stay at home. However, if you’re required to work on site, follow these best practices to protect yourself from COVID-19.

Avoid the Elevator

Because the CDC advises you to stay six feet away from people, you must avoid crowded public areas, including the restaurant where you grab lunch with your colleagues, the cafe where you buy your afternoon coffee, the subway that takes you to work, and the elevator, where strangers are packed like sardines. This may be difficult to do if you work on the 20th floor of your office building. If you can handle the walk, take the stairs. Not only will you avoid close contact with strangers, but you will also get your daily exercise. Remember: Exercise strengthens your immune system. 

Turn All Meetings Virtual

Most meetings can be done virtually. If you can avoid contact with a client or business partner, take that chance. You will be protecting both of your health. 

When meeting virtually, make sure to choose reliable video-calling software. Many companies use Zoom for conference calls because of its convenient features, including the ability to add virtual backgrounds and the ability to create group calls. You can learn how to use Zoom in just 20 minutes using Dusty Porter’s tutorial:

Also, check the strength of your WiFi network. No one wants to watch you buffer and freeze throughout the meeting. 

Don’t Shake Hands

Although the person whose hand you shook looks perfectly healthy, that person may still carry the virus unbeknownst to her. According to the CDC, people who carry the virus don’t display symptoms until after 2 to 14 days. To protect yourself, avoid physical contact, including handshakes. This may be difficult to do in the United States, where professionalism dictates we shake the hands of our colleagues or business associates. However, there are alternatives. Some have resorted to touching elbows or ankles. Some even prefer the polite smile and wave. Some are lobbying for the resurrection of the 18th century bow and curtsey. 

via GIPHY

Ditch the handshake. At a time like this, decorum can take a back seat. 

Scrub Under Your Fingernails

Washing your hands may be important, but to protect yourself from COVID-19, wash your hands thoroughly with soap for at least 20 seconds while scrubbing the back of your hand and under your fingernails. The CDC explains why this is important:

Remember what your mother taught you as a child: Wash before eating. But take it a step further. The CDC recommends washing after being in a public place, blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If you cough, sneeze, or blow your nose into a tissue, immediately throw it away after use. 

Hand sanitizers are not replacements to soap and water. Wash your hands if you can. If a hand-washing station is not available, then use hand sanitizers that contain 60% alcohol. Make sure to cover all surface areas. Rub your hands together until dry. 

Stop Touching Your Face

Scientists have marveled at this behavior. Despite their efforts, people seem unable to keep their hands away from their faces, whether that’s rubbing their eyes, resting their chins on their open palms, or running the back of their hands across their noses.

To protect yourself from COVID-19, keep your hands away from your face. If you shook hands with a person carrying the virus and rubbed your eye afterward, you can catch COVID-19. 

According to some health experts, touching your face is a technique used to soothe when you’re distressed. If you’re feeling stressed, keep your hand busy with a stress ball or fidget spinner. You can also wear a bandana as a barrier between your face and hand. Don’t use a face mask unless you’re sick or caring for the sick. 

How to Protect Others from COVID-19

The fight against COVID-19 requires community effort. You must protect yourself to protect others. You must protect others to protect the community. There are several ways you can protect your neighbors from COVID-19. 

Don’t Wear Face Masks

If you are well and healthy, don’t wear a face mask—there is no need. In fact, it causes more problems for the community. Because face masks are in low supply, you must reserve this precious resource for the sick and the people caring for them. If our doctors and nurses get ill, hospitals will become overwhelmed, resulting in fewer patients receiving the care they need. Remember, the fight against the virus requires community effort. Protect your healthcare professionals to protect the community and yourself.

If you’re ill, only then can you wear a face mask. Even more important, stay at home and regularly disinfect the surfaces you touch. 

Stay Home 



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Stay home, especially if you’re feeling unwell. Encourage others to stay home if they feel ill, even if that illness is a minor cold. According to the CDC, Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you feel ill, call your doctor—don’t go to the hospital, where health care professionals may be experiencing an influx of patients sick with the virus. Call first and follow the advice of your doctor. Don’t return to work until your temperature is below 100.4 degrees for at least 24 hours.

If you have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in chest, bluish lips or face, or difficulty getting out of bed, seek medical attention. 

Avoid Items from the Office Kitchen

Many workplaces include a kitchen where employees share utensils, plates, and mugs. Ditch those provisions and bring your own. The CDC advises against sharing personal items, including drinks, food, utensils, and towels. Bring your customized coffee mug to the office, and leave it out of the kitchen to prevent colleagues from using it. Bring your own plates and silverware and wash them at home. 

Disinfect Your Desk

The CDC also recommends disinfecting surfaces that you frequently touch, including tables, doorknobs, and keyboards. Disinfect your desk and the items that you frequently use. In doing so, you’re destroying the virus living on those surfaces. 

With people panic-buying all of the hand sanitizers and Clorox wipes, grocery stores and online merchants are in low supply. As as an alternative, you can concoct a bleach solution, containing five tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water or four teaspoons of bleach per quart of water, says the CDC. Make sure to ventilate the room when disinfecting. You can also disinfect with solutions containing 70% alcohol.

Cover Your Mouth When Coughing or Sneezing



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This may be common sense to most people, but you’d be surprised by the number of individuals who don’t cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. To protect others from COVID-19, sneeze or cough into your bent elbow. Absolutely don’t cough into your hand. You can easily transmit the virus to the person you shake hands with or touch. If not on your elbow, sneeze or cough into a tissue, which you must throw away immediately. For extra precaution, wash your hands afterward. 

Not all are informed of the ways they can protect themselves and others from COVID-19. At the office, hang up posters with instructions on how to prevent the spread of this virus. Refer to the CDC for reliable and accurate information.

By Anne Felicitas

The post How to Protect Yourself from COVID-19 at Work appeared first on AdvertiseMint.