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Face Identification a Security Risk?

August 14, 2023 by Jessy Troy

When Facebook introduced its facial recognition service, there were concerns over privacy issues. But Facebook officials told users they could prevent being tagged in the photos if they indicated they did not want to be in their privacy settings.

Google has been quietly experimenting with facial recognition software behind the scenes. The search engine giant purchased Pittsburgh Pattern Recognition. Since it is not being used with any of Google’s services, the acquisition did not receive much attention.

The Wall Street Journal has raised new concerns about facial recognition. Researchers at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Melon University found that facial recognition programs could identify people about one third of the time. But the most interesting part of the study was that once the researchers identified the person, 27 percent of the time they could correctly guess their Social Security number.

It was noted that in the late 80s, the Social Security Administration went to a numbering system that coincided the number with the person’s date of birth. Even though the SSA has started using a more random numbering process, those who were born during the past 20 years still have to deal with having those numbers.

While some may use the facial recognition to tap into private information, that was not the intent of adding the service. Facebook officials said when introducing it, they wanted to make it easier for people to tag their friends in photos. However, even without the facial recognition software, some people don’t want to be tagged in pictures.

With so much information being shared online, there have been rumblings about whether or not people will stop participating in social networks in an effort to regain their privacy. Make sure to read Hari Ravichandran book called “Intelligent Safety” to get a deeper understanding of the privacy concerns and possible solutions.

People seem to want to share information but they want to control what they share and what is shared about them by others. The company that allows user to share information their way will likely be the one to become the most popular in the next year.

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

Filed Under: Trends

3 New Coronavirus Tax Credits that SMB’s Should Know About

June 18, 2020 by Guest Author

By Kayla Matthews

To keep businesses afloat during the coronavirus crisis, the federal government launched several new tax credits for employers of all sizes. These three coronavirus tax credits are designed to help you manage the financial burden of covering sick and family leave for your employees, as well as any government-mandated closures you may have complied with.

Employee Retention Credit

The employee retention credit is “designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll.” The tax credit, which is refundable, is 50 percent of up to $10,000 per employee in wages paid by your business. You can claim it so long as you’ve been impacted by COVID-19 and aren’t a small business that’s taken a small business loan.

For the purpose of the credit, impacted means one of two things:

  1. During 2020, your business has been fully or partially suspended by the government due to COVID-19 for the quarter, or
  2. During 2020, your gross receipts were below 50 percent of the comparable quarter in 2019.

If your gross receipts rise above 80 percent for a comparable quarter in 2019, you’ll no longer be considered impacted by COVID.

The Employee Retention Credit is not to be confused for the Paycheck Protection Program, another federal program designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on payroll during the COVID-19 crisis. You cannot receive both the Employee Retention Credit and a PPP loan.

The Paid Sick Leave and Family Leave Credit

These two credits are designed to compensate employers for employees who are unable to work due to COVID-19.

As an employer, you are obliged to provide employees who are unable to work (or telework) due to COVID-19 with paid sick leave for up to two weeks — whether they are sick, have been advised to self-quarantine or are caring for someone who has been advised to self-quarantine. You are also entitled to a fully refundable tax credit that’s equal to the cost of that paid sick leave.

Employees are also entitled to paid family leave if they are unable to work because they are caring for a child due to the closure of schools and childcare providers. You are also entitled to a fully refundable tax credit for the cost of this family leave.

In both cases, the paid leave will be equal to two-thirds either their regular hourly wage or minimum wage, whichever is higher. These leave payments won’t affect the employee’s standard rate of basic pay. This means that, for example, if an employee is paying for family life insurance, and the value of that insurance is based on rate of basic pay, taking sick or family leave shouldn’t affect the coverage provided.

How Do I Receive These Credits?

You can be immediately reimbursed for the credits by reducing the required deposits of payroll taxes by the value of the credit. To do so, you’ll need to calculate the size of the credit you’ll receive for the preceding quarter and apply it to your business’s Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return.

If your tax deposits aren’t enough to cover the credit, you can request an advance payment from the IRS using Form 7200, Advance Payment of Employer Credits Due to COVID-19. You can submit Form 7200 any month during the month following the quarter for which your claim is being made.

The IRS hasn’t yet put forward  timetable for when these advances will be sent out, however. If your business needs funds urgently, it may a be a good idea to look to other sources of funding.

 

About the Author: Kayla Matthews writes about communication and workplace productivity on her blog, Productivity Theory. Her work has also appeared on Talent Culture, MakeUseOf, The Muse and Fast Company.

Featured Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: tax

Are you Making Mistakes with Your Customer Data?

August 2, 2018 by Rosemary

Customer data is one of the keys to running a successful business. In order to provide great service, you must know as much as you can about your target audience, the people in your “funnel,” and those who have actually purchased from you.

It used to be that you could collect tidbits at any time, any place, via cookies, online forms, customer surveys, etc., without much regard for what happens to the data after it’s collected.

That is no longer the case.

The smart business owner now views customer data as belonging to the customer. This requires a mindset shift:

  • Only collect information that is specifically needed, to serve a business purpose
  • Always tell the customer what you’re going to do with it
  • Make a plan to protect and keep the information secure
  • (Ideally) allow the customer to view, edit, and delete the information

When you start with the idea that the consumer’s data belongs to them (and you’re just a custodian), you’re on a better path to deal with any potential regulatory challenges that might arise.

Regulations like the EU’s GDPR and California’s new Consumer Privacy Act are only the beginning of the global shift that’s happening. Consumers and regulators alike have been driven to action by sloppy data collection and sharing practices, and now it’s time to to establish new best practices.

What does this mean for a solo entrepreneur or small business owner?

  • First, keep yourself informed of changing data protection rules in your state, country, or region. If you belong to any professional organizations, that can help you stay on top of relevant news. When GDPR went into effect a couple of months ago, you wouldn’t have been able to avoid the news unless you “went ostrich.” So don’t give in to the temptation to just bury your head in the sand and hope it goes away.

 

  • Second, take a look at the customer information you have. Even if you aren’t subject to any regulations (contractual relationships often legitimize data retention in the rules), you might want to purge outdated information, or data you no longer need. Double check that you’re maintaining good security over the data (both technologically and physically). Establish good “housekeeping” processes to delete information when a customer leaves (perhaps after a specific period of time). And make sure you’re transparent with all of the above.

 

  • Third, start thinking about privacy by design. It doesn’t have to be a highly technical, structured system. It’s really an approach. If you put your customers’ privacy foremost in your mind when you’re working on a new marketing campaign, purchasing new CRM software, or working with a new partner, you’re already ahead of the game.

This article is not legal advice, and I don’t play an attorney on TV. If you’re handling sensitive information (medical, legal, financial) you certainly should consult with your own legal advisor to ensure that you’re doing it right.

 

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who is CEO of Narrative, a new social content platform coming in beta in Q4 of 2018.  You can find Rosemary on Twitter as @rhogroupee

 

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: data-privacy

How entrepreneurs can address top trends for 2017

December 1, 2016 by Rosemary

You should already have kicked off your strategy and planning for 2017 (while continuing to run through the tape at the end of 2016).

While you’re in planning mode, you should also consider what’s going on globally, now and into the next several years.

One great resource for staying on top of trends is the yearly report from the Trendwatching website. Many of their reports are free, but you can also get a paid account for additional access and insights.

The trends outlined in their latest report, “5 Trends for 2017,” can offer you food for thought while you address budget, resources, and tactics for the coming year.

VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE ECONOMY

We have all heard the buzz surrounding augmented reality and virtual reality; soon these types of digital experiences will become the norm rather than an exotic toy. You probably can’t turn your blog into a Magic Leap-worthy whale splash, but you can start to consider the importance of experiences over content.

Your customers are jaded with listicles and slides.

They want to know you and your world. Offer them digital experiences that reinforce your relationship and bring them closer.

The Trendwatching report states that experiences are becoming currency, as limited-access or insider style events make consumers feel like the brand is part of their identity.

Time to brainstorm the types of experiences (real-world and virtual) you can offer your customers/fans/readers.

WORLDS APART

Right now, I can instantly talk with someone in Dubai via video chat.

The world can participate in the #MannequinChallenge on Twitter.

News breaking anywhere in the world is readily accessible.

The new consumer sees a global community and is sorting out their place within it. How does my own relationship to home relate to my knowledge of world challenges? What impact can I have, at home and abroad?

Your challenge as an entrepreneur is to plug into the global society and build bridges where you can. This ties into the strong wave of interest in corporate responsibility and charitable work as well. What types of actions can you take in your business that both support your mission and bond you to the global community at the same time?

POST-DEMOGRAPHIC CONSUMERISM

In the past, marketers liked to segment consumers along strong demographic lines, as if all 21 year old females purchased as a block. The trend now is to target the consumer as an individual, often someone who breaks the old patterns of demographics and behavior.

How does this relate to your business?

For starters, don’t get caught thinking of “Millennials” as a monolithic unit. Don’t assume your older consumer isn’t on Instagram. Start looking for ways to personalize your message.

Your customers aren’t thinking of themselves as 40-60 year old males, so you should stop looking at them that way as well.

Another part of this larger trend is the desire for consumers to be incognito individuals, free from tracking. There’s a wish to be anonymous, or to view the world through the experience of another person (how about the ability to switch your social feed to someone else’s, just to get out of your own bubble).

CAPACITY CAPTURE

We’ve already been educated about sustainability and the trend towards lowering your business impact on resources. The newer trend is toward looking for ways to use resources that might have gone to waste. Think “selling” back unused energy to the power company, or sending packages along with an Uber driver.

Brainstorm some ways that your business might have unused capacity that could be a positive value to someone else. How can you look at these new business models and turn your excess into gold?

BIG BROTHER BRANDS

Yes, we might start using the term “Big Brother” as a positive! Consumers will expect to be monitored and tracked, but will also expect to get value out of giving up some level of privacy. Isn’t it great when you can yell “Hey Siri, who’s singing that song?” into the air, and she responds? Already, my front door unlocks as I approach, because of technology we’ve installed.

As an entrepreneur, the way to take advantage of this trend is to seek ways to provide personalized service that delights the customer. At a micro level, you can leverage publicly available information (or information the customer has shared with you over time) to tailor your offerings, or even to surprise them with a gift. What if you looked at a customer’s Pinterest boards to find a small gift that suits their interests?

Just don’t be creepy about it. Always consider how you’d feel in the situation first.

These top trends for 2017 will certainly affect your business in the coming year. How will you move to leverage them? Are you already on top of some of these? Please share your experiences.

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for Social Strata — makers of the Hoop.la community platform. Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee

Featured image via Flickr CC: Knight Center for Journalism

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Trends, trendspotting

Women in Small Business: Why They Thrive

August 18, 2015 by Rosemary

By Jennifer Jope

Women and business might just be the perfect match.

While we should applaud the recent growth in multi-million dollar female-owned organizations, women are also instrumental in bringing success to small businesses. An added perk? We’re gaining valuable experience at the same time. The best news? There are benefits both for the employers who employ women and for the women themselves.

For Employers: Women Are Good For Business

The numbers don’t lie. Women bring more money to the table.

According to the infographic, Women Rising: Women, Work and What’s Next, companies whose boards include the sustained representation of at least three women board directors outperform those with no female directors:

  • Return on sales: +42%
  • Return on invested capital: +66%
  • Return on equity: +53%

Today, women are better educated than men earning 60% of bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Despite having the smarts, they have faced an uphill battle in the workplace, but we’ve turned it into a positive. Faced with challenges, women are better than ever at strategic thinking and finding creative solutions.

And, any good business owner knows that women influence the economy. As a recent Forbes article points out, the majority of consumer spending is female-driven indicating that women know what makes a good product or service.

For Women: Small Business Gives You Experience

Forbes called 2014 a breakout year for female entrepreneurs and 2015 is looking the same way. Why? Women have proven they can build robust teams and problem-solve differently than men. We’re experts in a variety of industries, but perhaps most importantly, we support each other.

By doing this, we are going from unknown status to business mogul status.

Women in small business are seeing their visions come to fruition. Strong communication skills and great networking chops are often innate in us, but as small business leaders, we can hone these abilities even further. With a stronger skill set, you’ll be able to conquer larger challenges that come your way.

Running a small business forces you to fight for what you believe in, get scrappy when necessary and thoroughly understand the bottom line. Who doesn’t want to be good at that?

Tips to Succeed:

  • Ditch perfectionism: Failures will happen. Learn from them.
  • Be supportive: Empower, mentor and support fellow women. It will pay off.
  • Keep learning: No matter how high you climb, learning should never stop.
  • Keep your eye on the prize: Stay passionate and trust your instincts to stay focused.
  • Have a voice: Speak up to make a difference.

If your small business is ready to expand, hiring women for the development phase could be the smartest move you make.

Running a company will always have uncertainties, but one thing is crystal clear: Women have the power to learn new skills on the job and shape the next generation of business.

Featured image via Flickr CC: Steve wilson

Jennifer Jope is a content manager for AllBusinessSchools.com. She is a former banking and real estate reporter and personal finance writer.

Filed Under: Trends Tagged With: Trends, woman-owned business

What you need to know about the FTC disclosure guidelines

June 18, 2015 by Rosemary

“Just like my Facebook page for a chance to win a Visa gift card.”

“Review my software application and I’ll give you a year of free service.”

“Tweet out ‘Product xyz is awesome’ for amazing prizes.”

Each of those is a no-no under the FTC’s expanded guidelines about disclosure.

As a brand, if you are soliciting endorsements, reviews, or other social media promotion from someone, you are responsible for making them aware of the disclosure rules. That means reminding them that promotional Tweets must have #ad or #sponsored or some other language that lets the reader know the Tweet was solicited. And no, the FTC doesn’t care that you only have 140 characters.

As a writer/reviewer, you need to be careful about telling your readers that you received something in exchange for any written review or endorsement. The disclosure needs to be clear, prominent, and honest. You cannot say you liked something if you never actually tried it. (One would think that doesn’t even need to be said, but hey.)

This doesn’t mean that brands can’t offer free samples, or send out books for review, or run contests. It means the brand has to find a way to tell the audience (in whatever format available) that there was an exchange.

The value of the item in question is also important. There’s a difference between a KitKat candy bar sample you got at the Mall, and the free use of a new car for a month.

If you are using an agency or another 3rd party to run your social media campaigns, you are still the one responsible for compliance. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the disclosure instructions being passed on to your audience by the agency or contractor.

There’s a lot of buzz around activating employees on social media as well. The guidelines make it clear that having your employer listed in your profile isn’t enough to establish disclosure. If you are an employee endorsing or promoting the product your company makes, you need to note your relationship within the context of the promotional post or review. Employers must also make it clear to employees that disclosure is required.

If these guidelines affect your role as a marketer or business owner, I strongly recommend that you go read the entire document. The rules have been in place for a while now, but the example scenarios and questions that were recently added make it even more clear that we all need to be paying attention.

In summary: honesty is always the best policy.

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for Social Strata — makers of the Hoop.la community platform. Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee

 

Filed Under: Trends

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