I am a full-stack developer, who mainly works with Java and Kotlin. I have built tools for frontend development with Java; such as `gradle-tailwind` – a Gradle plugin to build TailwindCSS. https://github.com/wale/gradle-tailwind
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has raised concerns about the relationship between Red Bull and its junior team, AlphaTauri, something he wants Formula One to take a closer look at.
Location: Europe Remote: Yes Willing to relocate: No Technologies: Python, Pytorch, OpenCV, C++, ONNX, Scikit-Learn, AWS, Tensorflow, Docker, GitHub, SQL Other: Computer Vision, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Image Processing, Object Detection, Object Tracking, Semantic Segmentation, Kalman Filtering, Random Forests. Résumé/CV: https://bit.ly/3TencKd Email: kujtim.rahmani@gmail.com As a Computer Vision/Machine Learning Engineer, I possess over 8 years of … Continue reading New comment by kujta1 in "Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (August 2023)"
European Climate Foundation | Data Engineer – Measurement, Evaluation & Learning | Flexible Location (Europe, Africa or the Americas preferred) | Remote | Full-time
The European Climate Foundation (ECF) is a major philanthropic initiative working to help tackle the climate crisis by fostering the development of a net-zero emission society at the national, European and global level. We are recruiting for a talented Data Engineer, who shares our passion for finding novel ways to measure media discourse around climate change.
Responsibilities:
– Create and maintain bespoke data systems for collecting and organising large volumes of media coverage and social media content drawn from APIs and other databases
– Collaborate with the MEL Manager and Data Engineer to design and deploy systems for collecting and storing data, including building up ETL pipelines
– Create dashboards, visualisations and other tools that help media, policy and advocacy practitioners and partners make better strategic decisions
Essential:
– Python, database management (SQL, NOSQL), use of data APIs, data-viz
Violent protests, riots, and killings, in the name of the Black Lives Matter movement erupted across the country in the summer of 2020 around the time Army Sergeant Daniel Perry turned a corner in Austin, Texas and found himself surrounded by an angry mob of protesters sparking an encounter that has him facing life in prison.
Business Licenses and Permits – Are They Really Necessary?
While not every company needs to have business licenses and permits, it’s still vitally important to check. Make sure because there are consequences to not having licensing.
Check out why business licenses and permits matter. And along the way, get specifics on licensure in North Carolina, Massachusetts, Florida, and Washington State.
Reason #1: Why Does a Business Need Licensing?
According to LegalZoom, “A business license is a government document that certifies a business is safe for the public. Exactly which kinds of licenses you require depends upon the kind of business you operate and where you operate it.”
Licensing is also a form of revenue for states, cities, and counties. But no matter how much profit a jurisdiction may get from providing licenses, licensure is still rooted in public safety.
Reason #2: Why Does a Business Need Permits?
According to Chron, “Business permits regulate safety, structure and appearance of the business community. They act as proof that your business follows certain laws and ordinances. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, and failure to comply often results in fines or even having your business shut down.”
Permits can be related to tax collections. They can also be related to zoning laws, which can be for public safety. For example, you probably can’t open a cattle feedlot or a chemical processing plant in a residential area
Applying for Variances
If you cannot, or do not want to, comply with a local ordinance, you can petition for a special permit called a variance. A variance essentially gives you permission to violate an ordinance. These are rarely granted and can be expensive due to legal fees. So make sure you need one before you request it.
Reason #3: Check Out What Happens if you Operate Without Business Licenses and Permits
So if a license is required, then get one. If you don’t, you could be forced to close. You may have to pay a fine. Your business could have to go through a probationary period before being allowed to reopen. The licensing authority (city, state, etc.) could refuse to grant you a license. Or your business could experience any combination of these.
If you don’t have a license, you could be sued for fraud. This is because it’s a misrepresentation if you open your doors without a license. After all, the public is reasonably expected to believe you have all necessary permits and licenses.
Your business reputation could take a tumble. Because customers may feel if you won’t follow the law, you won’t follow their directions, either. You could scare off prospects. As they might see your business as being fly by night.
So is it really worth it to not have licenses and permits? You should already know the answer to that.
Consider This: Licenses, Leases, Permits, and Registrations Are All on a Calendar
These all need renewal on a regular basis, so keep track of those dates. Keep a copy of all applications and forms in your business records. Make sure you follow all rules for displaying licenses and permits.
Most places require you to display the license prominently for your customers. Check to see if you need additional licenses before expanding your building, launching a new product, or offering a new service.
Consider This: Recordkeeping
When we talk about fundability, one of the areas we stress is keeping consistent records. Hence in addition to keeping track of renewal dates, you should also make sure all licenses, permits, etc. have the exact same business name, address, phone number, etc. And if any of these basics change, be sure to update all of these documents.
Which Types of Federal Business Licenses Do You Need?
If a federal agency regulates your business activities, you will need a federal license. According to the Small Business Administration, businesses in the following industries will need a federal license:
Agriculture
Alcoholic beverages
Aviation
Firearms, ammunition, and explosives
Fish and wildlife
Commercial fisheries
These industries are also included on the list of industries that must have federal licenses:
Maritime transportation
Mining and drilling
Nuclear energy
Radio and television broadcasting
Transportation and logistics
Which Types of Local Business Licenses Do You Need?
Local business licenses come from your state or city. They are determined by local laws. Federal licenses pertain to certain kinds of business activities. But a local business license means adhering to your state’s specific business regulations. To set up your business license, you often have to have a commercial address that must be a licensed business as well. You increase your chances of rejection if you use a non-licensed business as your address.
Which Types of State Business Licenses Do You Need?
States have various requirements. As a result, the rules for one will not necessarily apply to another. Here are a few example states to give you an idea of what’s needed, and where to get licensing.
Business Licenses and Permits in North Carolina
North Carolina does not have a generalized license to cover all bases. You’ll need to check your specific industry. The North Carolina Department of Commerce keeps the North Carolina Business & Occupational License Database. There are hundreds of business, occupational, and privilege licenses issued in North Carolina.
Some sample occupations that require licensing include:
Truck Driver School Recruiter
Asbestos Accreditation
Certified General Real Estate Appraiser
Kerosene Supplier
Business Licenses and Permits in North Carolina Cities Like Charlotte
Cities have their own licensing requirements. For example, in Charlotte, you will need to visit Charlotte Business Resources. The Licensing and Permitting page has a wealth of information on getting licenses not just in Charlotte, but also Mecklenburg County. The page answers basic questions on taxes and other topics of interests to business owners.
In the Bay State, the Division of Professional Licensure (“DPL”) is an agency within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
Collectively, DPL boards and offices license and regulate over 150 trades and professions in Massachusetts.
From the Massachusetts government website page on the DPL, you’ll need to click on the board governing the appropriate industry to get more information on the licensing you’ll need.
Get a Business License in Mass.
There is also a topic page on the Massachusetts government website all about professional licenses and permits. From that page, you can learn about licensing requirements and laws governing basic professional categories such as:
Health care
The building trades
Cosmetology
Getting a Business License in Massachusetts Cities Like Boston
In the city of Boston, the city’s website has a section on small business development. The Licensing Board issues and regulates licenses for alcohol, food, and lodging in Boston. The Consumer Affairs and Licensing Division licenses entertainment for restaurants and nightclubs. When it comes to liquor licenses, in some instances you will have to meet with the Neighborhood Association before a Board can proceed.
Business Licenses and Permits in Florida
On the My Florida License website, you can click on the names of several industries to learn all about their licensing requirements. These industries include:
Electrical contractors
Harbor pilots
Certified public accountants (CPAs)
Get a Business License in Florida Cities
Many Florida cities have licensing requirements. For a list of Florida cities that links directly to their official websites, go to the Cities page at the State of Florida website. That website also has a Permits and Licenses page.
Business Licensing in Florida Cities Like Tampa
For example, the Tampa government website shows how to get construction permits in the city. Permits are required for, among other activities:
Tree removal
Adding or repairing/upgrading a pool or a spa
The interior finishing of new construction
Business Licenses and Permits in Florida Counties Like Hillsborough
Florida counties have their own licensing requirements. For a list of Florida counties that links directly to their official websites, go to the Counties page at the State of Florida website. On that page, you can choose a county by name.
For example, for licensing information in Hillsborough County, go to the county website’s Apply page, then choose the Businesses tab. There you will find links to permits for activities such as:
Fireworks displays
Special events
Doing construction, development, or utility work in the County’s Right-of-Way
On the Washington State government website, go to the Department of Revenue page, and then to Open a Business, then to Apply for a Business License. You will need to register with the Department of Revenue and get a business license if you meet any of the following conditions:
Your business requires city and state endorsements
You are doing business using a name other than your full name legal name
Or you plan to hire employees within the next 90 days
You sell a product or provide a service that requires the collection of sales tax
You will also need to register with the Department of Revenue and get a business license if you meet any of the following conditions:
Your gross income is $12,000 per year or more
Your business is required to pay taxes or fees to the Department of Revenue
Or you are a buyer or processor of specialty wood products
Your business meets Nexus threshold reporting requirement
Business License in Washington Cities
For city licensing, go to the Washington State government website and look under Manage a Business, then City License Endorsements. There is a list of many of the cities and larger towns in Washington. However, it does not include all cities and towns.
To be thorough, Google the name of the appropriate city or town if it isn’t listed. Check their government website directly, just to be sure.
Business License in WA State Cities Like Seattle-Tacoma (SeaTac)
For example, if you click on the SeaTac link, there is information on a general business license. The City of SeaTac requires a license for all businesses located within city limits or conducting business within city limits.
If you are not sure if you will do business within the city limits, contact the city directly before you apply. Costs depend on the total number of full-time equivalent employees at your business.
Business Licenses and Permits: Takeaways
Business licenses and permits can be easy to overlook in your initial excitement at getting your business off the ground. But don’t ignore them! Failing to properly license a business can result in fines and other penalties. It can also cost you in business from customers and prospects.
Always check state, county, and city/town websites when it comes to licensing. Or call the appropriate government offices to be sure your business is fully and properly licensed.
For more help with setting up a business and making it the best it can be, make sure to contact us. And find out just what our Business Credit Builder has to offer.
Have you thought about incorporating the AI magic of chatbots with the wide net of a PPC ad campaign? Combining these two strategies can add a boost to your next digital marketing campaign.
To ensure a successful PPC campaign, you have to start with the end in mind. Where do you want people to go once they’ve seen your ad and shown some interest? Do you want to make a sale or provide information?
You also need to consider what they want to learn about you and how you can help them find all the information they want.
That’s where chatbots come in.
What Are Chatbots?
Chatbots are a type of artificial intelligence (AI) created to answer customer questions. They’re capable of answering basic or common questions, sending people to pages answering their questions, looking up orders, and more.
You can program your bot to escalate a customer to a real person if needed as well.
Most people think to look for chatbots in the lower right-hand corner of a company’s website. The button may say something like “chat now” or “support,” like the one on Imperfect Foods’ website:
However, you can also set them up on Facebook Messenger and some other social media sites.
Chatbots can become very interactive, depending on the platform and the script. Also, you can check in with them however often you want and follow up with prospects when needed.
Functionalities vary widely, but however you incorporate bots, they can be a powerful, real-time player in your digital marketing strategy, buttressing your PPC campaign with interactivity and deepened brand awareness.
5 Ways to Use Chatbots During a PPC Campaign
The great thing about adding chatbots to your PPC campaign strategy is the flexibility they bring. No matter your business, sales goals, or individual PPC campaign goals, chatbots can become your right-hand person when you can’t be there for every click-through.
Here are five things they can do to help your customers while freeing you and your team up to focus on the big picture.
1. Answer User FAQs Immediately
We’ve all seen PPC ads, and chances are you’ve clicked on at least one because it intrigued you enough to want to learn more about what was in the content you saw.
Was your curiosity satisfied immediately? Or did you have to dig for the information promised by the ad?
Save your prospective customer the trouble and have a chatbot ready to answer their questions.
When a user clicks the PPC ad, your chatbot can appear on the page and ask if they have any questions. Through a series of scripts, you can help prospective customers learn more about you and find the products or services they need.
Going back to the Imperfect Foods example, if you’re a first-time visitor, it simply tells you to ask it a question.
However, if you’re a returning user, it knowswhy you probably clicked on the chat function: You forgot your password.
If that’s not knowing what your audience is going to ask, I don’t know what is.
A chatbot is, by definition, a bot—not an actual person. However, even when companies tell consumers they’re talking to a bot, something fascinating tends to happen. According to Psychology Today, “When interacting with chatbots, our brain is led to believe that it is chatting with another human being.”
Further, since they are always there, ready to help, people can feel a real personal connection with them. (So, be sure to program your bot’s voice to fit in with your brand story!)
This can improve brand awareness and encourage people to continue that connection by following you on social media or coming back to your website when they need your products or services.
People like feeling supported. When they come to your website and don’t have to poke around to get their questions answered and find the resources they’re looking for, they’re likely to feel better about the experience.
3. Direct Users to the Right Landing Pages, Product Pages, or Resources
As you create your PPC campaign, the reality is you can’t guess what every person is shopping for. While you should create a targeted landing page or ensure your PPC ads take users to the right place, sometimes miscommunications between customer intent and where they land can occur.
How can you keep users from landing on your page, then immediately bouncing if they don’t see exactly what they need?
A chatbot can showcase your entire inventory or website content from any page your customer lands on.
You can use them to ask users what they’re looking for and direct them to the corresponding page or resource.
4. Learn More About Your Target Audience
PPC ad campaigns only tell you so much about who is clicking. You can gather specific metrics from analytics, but those are often demographic stats from which you would have to deduce motivations or needs.
What is your target market looking for? How can you help meet them where they are?
Why not use a chatbot to actually ask them?
In an on-brand tone, you could have your chatbot pop up with a specific question to start a conversation.
Even if a customer chooses not to buy or comes back later, that chatbot conversation can help you uncover valuable information about your target market.
As the PPC campaign continues, you can look for patterns.
For example, HubSpot uses chatbots on their pages to ask the user what they want to do next. HubSpot employees can review those conversations later to learn about what their viewers are looking for.
5. Improve Brand Awareness
Whether your PPC campaign is introducing potential customers to your brand for the first time, debuting a new product or service, or keeping your brand at the forefront of your target market’s mind, chatbot integration can help to improve your brand awareness.
From the first pop-up welcome or introduction message to the answers to questions, chatbots can be designed to show brand personality.
This can be as simple as just using vernacular specific to your brand and how your customers talk. If your brand is casual, perhaps a chat could start with “Howdy!” If your voice is more formal, something like “How may I assist you today?” could be more appropriate.
You can also incorporate any characters or mascots you use in your branding to be the “face” of the chatbot. Generally, people logically know they aren’t talking to a real person and are okay with that. However, it’s much more fun and feels more personal if they get to talk to a character associated with your company, thereby potentially improving their experience with your brand.
Evaluating the Success of Your PPC Chatbot Strategy
Before you can dive into the metrics and measure whether your chatbot PPC campaign is working, you need to define success for yourself. What are you trying to accomplish with this campaign?
Success metrics could include:
higher sales of a particular product or service
more visitors to your website
an increase in followers on a social media platform
additional sign-ups for your newsletter
heightened awareness of your brand offerings
When you know what defines success for this campaign, you can look at the right metrics to understand what’s working and what you can improve upon.
With the PPC campaign as a whole, one of the primary data points you can look at is click-throughs.
With chatbots, though, there is an added component: Interaction. The conversations between chatbots and users allow you to answer questions like:
How often are people using your chatbot?
How long are the interactions?
What sorts of things are users searching for?
Which conversations turn into conversions?
The information you learn from your chatbots in your PPC campaign can help you:
optimize campaigns for what buyers want based on common queries
create content reflecting what buyers ask
update inventory based on what buyers are looking for
Here are two examples of how Chatfuel shares its chatbot metrics. Users can explore engagement through these dashboards. Most chatbot platforms have similar metric dashboards.
Chatbots for PPC Campaigns FAQs
How do I get people to use my chatbot?
Your chatbot on your PPC campaign’s landing page needs to be obvious, popping up soon after a user clicks your link. To encourage interaction, program your chatbot to welcome the user and ask them a question.
What is the best chatbot platform?
The best chatbot platform for PPC campaigns is one you can seamlessly integrate onto the landing page where people click to. This varies by your needs, but HubSpot’s Chatbot Builder, ManyChat, and Chatfuel may be worth checking out.
How expensive is it to set up a chatbot?
Chatbot pricing depends on the provider and features you choose. Many offer free trials or a free basic level, with prices going up after your trial or as you add additional options.
How can I make my chatbot interesting?
Give your chatbots a personality in line with your brand. Make the bot feel like a real person, even if you’re upfront about being a bot, so the user feels connected to your brand. The bot should introduce itself, ask questions, and provide relevant information to customers as they interact.
Chatbots Conclusion
Using chatbots in tandem with PPC campaigns can make your prospective customers feel “seen,” help them learn more about your brand, and potentially increase conversions thanks to the help they give.
Setting up a chatbot on the landing page of your PPC campaign can put your brand’s features, options, benefits, and customizations at your customers’ fingertips from the get-go.
The chatbots your PPC campaigns introduce users to can also teach you more about what your customers want. Then, you can use that data to create future digital marketing campaigns specific to their needs.
How are you going to incorporate chatbots into your next PPC campaign?
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