Archive for November, 2023

Hiring Freelancers and Contractors: Tips and Best Practices

Wednesday, November 29th, 2023

While Uber and Lyft have popularized the concept of the gig economy, the truth is that gig, freelance, or contract workers have been around for a long time. In fact, I’ve been one of these since 1981, when I first started writing business articles for a wide range of trade and business publications. I’ve worked remotely with publishers and editors for years—most of them I’ve never physically met! My interest in the gig economy, which traditionally had been referred to as telecommuting, led me to research and write a book on the topic some years ago. (more…)

Companies That Stand the Test of Time: What Does It Take?

Tuesday, November 21st, 2023

Vinyl records. Audiotapes. Typewriters. Carbon paper. That white stuff that Mike Nesmith’s mom invented that we used to use to correct typing errors. Rotary phones. The Post Office (well, not yet…). Look back over the past 10, 20 or 50 years, and you’ll find countless examples of products and services that simply no longer exist — or that have morphed into something else. Products and services that, for whatever reasons, have become obsolete. (more…)

Generative AI and Copyright Issues: What You Need to Know

Tuesday, November 14th, 2023

Generative AI (ChatGPT is one popular example) holds a lot of promise for researchers and content creators of all kinds, but it may also pose some risks that have not yet been fully explored, such as the risk of copyright infringement. As an AI tool crawls the internet and digital sources for information to respond to users’ queries, the information that’s pulled often belongs to other content creators. What risks does that have for those relying on this information—sometimes verbatim—especially when it might be inaccurate? Here we take a look at written content generated by AI and the implications content creators need to be aware of. (more…)

Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Influencer?

Tuesday, November 7th, 2023
Influencer marketing is a type of social media marketing that leverages endorsements and product mentions from people who have a dedicated social following and are viewed as experts among a particular demographic. This marketing strategy works effectively due to the high amount of trust these influencers have built up with their following. Their recommendations and opinions offer “social proof” that can be powerful enticements for purchasing products and services of varying kinds.
Not all influencers are created equal, of course.