If you think about it, I was doing live YouTube reviews in Target back in the day.
Small-biz tip: How to onboard a remote employee
If you’re a small business owner, onboarding a new employee virtually can be a huge undertaking. Taking a new hire out to lunch, giving them a tour of the office and introducing them to coworkers is often an integral part of the experience, but that might not be possible if you hire remote employees.
We went to the experts on hiring for answers, our sponsor LinkedIn. Read on to learn about hiring virtually and leaving your new team member with a great first impression.
1. Before they start
The pros at LinkedIn split successful onboarding into six phases. The first isn’t after your new hire has already come on board but about two weeks before they begin. Here’s what you should do before your new employee’s first day:
- Share a schedule for the employee’s first day with them.
- Explain everything they need to know about your business’s guidelines for virtual meetings, such as whether video is required and how many to expect.
- Be sure they have access to whatever hardware and software are required for their role.
2. First day
Two weeks later, the paperwork is signed and your new employee is ready. Here’s what you should do on their actual first day of work:
- Don’t overload your new employee! Treat the first day as an overview of what’s to come.
- Your employee’s first day isn’t a workday. It’s a learning experience.
- By the end of the first day, they should be ready to get to work for the rest of the week.
3. Second day
Here’s what you should do on your new employee’s second day of work:
- Let your employee get to know you, or their direct superior, as a manager and boss. Schedule one-on-one time to get to know each other and outline key expectations.
- This is also an excellent time to check in and see if they have questions about the onboarding or training processes.
4. First week
How to spot fake reviews on Amazon and other sites online
With the holidays around the corner, I’m gearing up for a whole lot of online shopping between now and Christmas. And while I’m glad the FTC is finally cracking down on fake and paid reviews, let’s be real — it’s not going to catch every bogus review out there.
So fresh and so clean, clean
I’m gonna wash that dirt right out of my life!
- Folex is the stain remover for carpets and a big bottle is only $7. There’s a reason it has almost 85,000 reviews on Amazon and is a No. 1 bestseller.
- For clothes (and messy kiddos), you want Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater.
- The Pink Stuff (11% off) works, period. I just used it to clean the splatters off the side of a pan and gunk off the faucets.
- These skinny cleaning brushes (under $10) are better than your old toothbrush for nooks and crannies.
- De-stink your garbage disposal the easy way — under $4 right now!
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
The FTC bans fake online reviews
Using bots to boost social media followers and influence is off the table, too. Disney+ adds Hulu shows, sparking parental outrage. Plus, Waymo horror stories, Facebook rental scams, and tips for your next mechanic visit. And Earl from Chicago needs wedding help for his daughter.
Google Maps upgrade: You can now chat with the app to find things to do, restaurants to visit and nearby attractions, all with reviews. You’ll see detailed parking info near your destination and walking directions when you exit your car, too.
These apps are the biggest oversharers on your phone
I talk a lot about how most apps default to automatically sharing your data with advertisers and marketing companies. But some apps share your personal info with other people by default.
Yeah, no, thank you. Let’s end this today. Here are the most common app oversharers on your phone and how to get them to stop.
Fix your website! 4 ways to get more people to your site using SEO
A savvy business owner knows the value of website optimization. In today’s cutthroat digital marketplace, an SEO-friendly website with solid keyword research, meta tags, good page speed and backlinks helps you stand out. If you want to know how to improve search engine rankings for small business websites, you’ve come to the right place.
Dirty diaper returned to Amazon
Whenever I get something from Amazon, I always inspect it THOROUGHLY.
Look the part
Summer is hard on skin, hair, nails — you name it. It’s Kim to the rescue, with inexpensive pick-me-ups! Guys, yes, you can use all these, too.
- Defrizz your pool or beach hair with a collagen mask that’s under $8.
- Rosemary oil supports hair growth, just sayin’. Great price and reviews on this brand.
- Corns and calluses aren’t cute. Fix your feet. Be careful looking at the photos in the reviews. Just know — they work.
- These wipes, made especially for sweaty folks, will help keep you dry before a big day.
- Treat your skin right after too much sun. Love this stuff from Burt’s Bees (11% off).
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Spot a fake review online? You can now report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. This includes sham testimonials, AI-generated comments and marketers using bots to inflate their follower counts. The penalty? Up to $51,744 per violation!
5 things you should never put on a resume
In life, few rewards come without risk. Take your dream job, for instance. If you want to land that position you’ve been dreaming about, you’ll need to make a great first impression.
When you’re applying for jobs, that all comes down to your resume. Every little detail makes a big difference. For example, a small mistake could take you out of the running for a job you’re qualified for.
5 free resources to grow your business
Entrepreneurs and small business owners need all the help they can get. When you’re a self-starter, you’re constantly on the go, multitasking and doing all you can to grow your company quickly. Luckily, there are a ton of free small business resources that can help you along the way.
Small-biz tip: Don't overlook this digital danger
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.
FTC cracks down on fake followers and reviews
Fake followers? Fake likes? The FTC is done playing around. I’ll tell you why the crackdown could mean big fines — or worse — for influencers and brands pulling these tricks.
Toxic chemicals found in Temu products
Officials flagged sandals with 11 times the legal lead limit! Google’s forcing your site to train its AI if you want it searchable. Plus, the FTC is cracking down on fake reviews, and a hack to find cheap flights online.
How to spot a fake retail website before you buy
I got a question this week from Janet in Idaho. She was scrolling Instagram, clicked an ad for a super-cute dress and bought it. Next thing you know, there are bogus charges on her debit card. “How the heck did that happen?” she asked me. “It was a website I’ve shopped on before.”
Tesla's unsafe autopilot
Elon Musk’s Tesla has reported over 1,200 autopilot crashes in the past three years. Also, look out for foreign nations spreading misinformation on social media, fake reviews targeting restaurants, and the rise of restaurant robots.
📚 Catfish on the menu: Lame AI cookbooks are taking over Amazon’s bestseller list. Take “The Complete Crock-Pot Cookbook for Beginners.” Red flags: The author is wearing mismatched earrings, it’s riddled with typos, the recipes are weird, and there’s filler like “What is Crock-Pot?” Before you buy, read the one-star reviews and check the preview images.
How to spot if a review is fake
When you’re looking on the web for a place to stay, eat, or work, here’s why you should think twice about online reviews.