🙃 Bingo, bang-o! It’s National Cybersecurity Month. The National Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (what a mouthful!) made a bingo card for businesses.
How to take the perfect profile pic for social media sites
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Your profile picture is more important than you might think. It’s your chance to make a good first impression on the world. That’s why you must know how to take the perfect profile picture for all your accounts.
Say you’re applying for a new job. Potential employers will run background checks on your social media presence. You need to have good pictures that show you at your best.
You might even want to run a check on yourself to get an idea of what other people are seeing. Here’s how to run a free background check on yourself. Here are a few ways to improve your LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram profile picture.
A few ways to look better on LinkedIn
This is incredibly important because it gives employers an idea of what you’ll look like at work. Choose a picture that shows how competent, influential and likable you are.
Not sure how that comes across in a picture? Just upload your LinkedIn profile picture to Photofeeler, a free picture rating website. Strangers will let you know how you come across.
Instead of uploading a picture with a toothy grin, take a professional photo with a slight smile. You want to look friendly without showing too much enthusiasm. Also, use a picture that has a blurred background so the person viewing your profile can focus on your face.
How to take the perfect profile picture for Facebook
Family shots are a great option. After all, Facebook is all about connecting with other people, so it makes sense to pick a photo of you with loved ones. Just make sure you’re the focal point of the picture.
Improve your look on Instagram
We recommend picking an action-oriented photograph. Show yourself doing something you love. For example, if you like surfing, show yourself riding those waves.
Instagram is more personal than LinkedIn and less family-oriented than Facebook. It’s okay to let your hair down a little. Just make sure you don’t get too comfortable, or you might put off employers.
Small-biz tip: Don't overlook this digital danger
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Are you the type of business owner who forgets about ex-employees as soon as they’re gone? Failing to remove former employees’ access to your systems and data could lead to security breaches. Don’t let poor offboarding practices be the weak link in your cybersecurity chain.
Watch out for fake businesses on Google Maps
Just because a place has five stars doesn’t mean it’s real. Here’s how to spot a scam.
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Sick of QuickBooks? There’s a better way!
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Haven't logged into LinkedIn lately? 5 reasons you really should be using it
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How much do you know about LinkedIn? Sure, you probably understand it’s a social network for professionals, but it’s so much more.
Unlike most social networks that are used to share the latest vacation pictures, LinkedIn was designed for more important reasons. It can help you make connections, share work experience and find or post jobs.
Google’s AI is helping businesses: Mattel used it to figure out why people were returning the Barbie Dreamhouse. The culprit? A stuck elevator door. AI spotted the issue fast, and Mattel tweaked the assembly. And just like that, ratings went up. Oh, they added Ken’s favorite cheese, bar brie. (What a nice smile you have!)
💻 Microsoft released a mini PC: It’s small. It’s boxy. It streams Windows 11 from the cloud like it’s Netflix, so you can work from anywhere. But heads-up, it’s not for everyone. The “Link” is made for businesses. Priced at $349.99, you’ll need to go through Microsoft or a reseller to get one.
Get paid to test websites
Crappy websites cost businesses big bucks. Here’s how you can help fix that and earn cash for it.
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Swatting phone calls made by one teenager. Alan Filion from California charged up to $75 to send police to schools, businesses and even an unnamed former president. In one call, he said he was approaching a school with an AK-47, and the bomb squad showed up. When he targeted homes, Filion said the goal was to “get the cops to drag the victim and their families out of the house, cuff them and search the house for dead bodies.” He’s so lucky no one died.
Mining my own business: I’ve followed this story for years. A British judge just said no to a man’s plan to dig up a landfill in search of his hard drive holding the equivalent of $765 million in bitcoin. Why? First, the landfill legally owns the trash. Second, excavating it could release harmful substances and endanger local residents. Oh, and it’s been over 11 years, so there’s no guarantee the data is even recoverable.
The Windows of my soul: Here’s one way to market a product. Microsoft is rolling out its AI assistant, Copilot, as part of its 365 subscription. It’s not free and you can’t opt out. It’s going to cost you an additional $30 per user per month for businesses. Wow.
70 cents a mile
Next year’s IRS mileage rate for business travel. The 3-cent increase kicks in for 2025 trips and taxes due in 2026. Tax question: How long do leftovers have to be in the fridge before you can claim them as dependents?
A good fee is tariff-ic: The FTC just banned hidden “junk fees” for hotels, tickets and vacation rentals. Starting in 2025, businesses will need to show the total price upfront — no more “resort” or “convenience” fees snuck in at checkout. Yeah, those fees will still be there, but being able to see them before you pay will save everyone a whole lot of time.
Cracking the case: You can buy mystery bundles of unclaimed mail starting around $40. The boxes could contain anything from knock-off Chanel bags and fake IDs to total junk. Florida-based Fundelivered has sold over 90,000 bundles in the last three years. I wanted to buy one, but they’re sold out. What a great business idea, right?
Reader question: 'What can I use instead of QuickBooks?'
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7 years
Since Costco’s last price hike. Starting this month, renewals and new customers on the Gold Star, Business and Business Add-on plans will pay $65 a year, a $5 increase. The premium Executive Membership went up $10 to $130 a year. At least hotdogs are still $1.50.
Better luck this time: Google is relaunching its AI photo tool. They pulled it in February after users posted pics of Nazi soldiers depicted as Black or Asian, along with a female pope. For now, it’s exclusive to paid Gemini Advanced, Business and Enterprise subscribers.