The news, blogs and articles we read

Our Small Business Breakdown crew discusses some of the biggest and most interesting news stories of the last week.

A New York business owner pleaded guilty to employment tax fraud for paying $3.6 million in cash wages without withholding or paying required taxes, causing a $545,743 loss to the IRS.

In ad, the scene finally shifts to the modern marvels of Tonal's home strength training system

Looking for some things to sew and sell? Whether you?re looking to start a full time business or make some extra money, here are your best options.

Discover what a business loan broker is and how hiring one could help your small business. See whether a loan broker is right for you.

Google quietly introduced a new Google Labs AI search engine that completely reimagines AI Search The post Google’s AI Search Experiment: “Learn About” appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

The campaign was created by Leo Burnett.

Sustainable businesses are becoming more and more popular. Here are some of the best sustainable business ideas to inspire you to take the next step.

Knowing how to buy the right anti-virus software for your small business can be challenging, here is how you can get the right one for you.

Whether you have an established handyman business or you're just getting started, our handyman tools list will help ensure you have everything you need.

WP Engine escalates lawsuit, alleging Automattic's WP Engine Tracker website exposed customers to cybercrimes The post WP Engine Escalates Legal Battle With Automattic and Mullenweg appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

TikTok 's "Symphony Creative Studio" is an automated video-generation tool that ad partners can use to create videos "in minutes" from product information or a URL.

Bluesky added over 1 million new users in the past 24 hours, marking yet another major boost in users as it continues to compete with X and Threads in the microblogging app space.

"Beauty Never Gets Old" showcases an array of women whose confidence in their own skin jumps off the screen.

The law "will inevitably result in the censorship of wide swaths of valuable political speech and commentary," X argues in a complaint filed Thursday in federal court in Sacramento.

Consider how powerful the incentives are to look the other way when the algorithm favors unwholesome content.

Just because a town is small doesn't mean there aren't plenty of small business opportunities. Here are the best mall town business ideas to consider.

Online video can help replace in-person meetings. Find the best video conferencing software, free and paid, including Zoom alternatives.

Meta will argue to the 9th Circuit that it's immune from suit under Section 230.

SBEN launches a platform to help solo business owners seamlessly transition their ventures to new entrepreneurs without broker fees.

A 30-second spot airing during the fourth quarter illustrates its AI product.

With #EffortIsEverything, the Unilever brand is encouraging zillennials to revel in their holiday food flubs.

Avoid the pitfalls of bad and toxic links in SEO. Learn effective link building strategies and how to vet service providers. The post Bad & Toxic Backlinks You Should Avoid appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

The true measure of health for a prime-time series continues to be fluid where overall time-shifted data through seven days and streaming platforms should be factored in.

The campaign was created by Adam & Eve/DDB, which won the toy brand's creative account in May.

The campaign was created by Popcorn PR.

Talk Squad was created by TheOr.

Few marketing predictions for the coming year ever materialize, but people still find them interesting and engaging. Keep all of that in mind with this first taste from CMI about 2025, including one prediction guaranteed to be true.

Media owners shared a sneak preview of their biggest creative ideas at the annual event in London.

HTTPArchive is now reporting real-world Core Web Vitals comparisons among web hosts. One host consistently takes the top spot The post 6 Web Hosts Ranked By Core Web Vitals: One Outperforms All appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

Campaign was made by Uncommon Creative Studio.

The campaign features Pepsi "agents" swapping out patrons' drinks for Pepsi at top burger chains that normally serve Coke.

The brand is showcasing the experience on social media posts, including its Instagram pages.

Get a better understanding of what a core update is designed to do and how to recover if your rankings are affected. The post What Is A Google Broad Core Algorithm Update? appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

Meta's now looking to separate your Threads and IG interest graphs.

As brand ambassador, Chopra Jonas appears in online videos promoting the collaboration on the brand's website and social media platforms.

Cilantro Soap is an homage to the people genetically wired to taste soap whenever they eat cilantro (which is in multiple Chipotle menu items).

TikTok has filed two U.S. trademarks that aim to capitalize on its search popularity, opening its ad business up to new opportunities in the social media space - restaurants, retail, travel, and more.

A new live-stream donation option on YouTube. 

Microsoft shares optimization strategies for AI search engines, focusing on user intent, natural language, and fresh content updates. The post Microsoft’s AI SEO Tips: New Guidance For AI Search Optimization appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

Marketing leaders need to be prepared to justify their budget choices to the CFO, offering uncomplicated evidence of the value each investment brings.

The fine relates to the dominance of Facebook Marketplace.

Some handy new connective features to help reassure parents.

WordPress Security Plugin flaw allows hackers to gain administrator access without login authentication The post WordPress Security Plugin Vulnerability Endangers 4 Million+ Sites appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

Facebook's following Instagram's lead in making “Views” its focus metric. 

TikTok's AI video generation tools are getting an upgrade.

Google Maps introduces product search with real-time inventory, helping shoppers find items in stock at nearby stores. The post Google Maps Launches Product Search: Steps For Retailers appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

Meta may be planning to allow a few advertisers to create and publish ads on Threads this January - a first for the platform. Since its launch, brands have awaited the ability to advertise on the platform, especially as X became a more volatile and unreliable space to target specific audiences after Elon Musk took over in 2022.

Co-founder Christie Marchese and CEO Brian Walker join Publicis Media, reporting to Chief Content Officer Eric Levin.

New WFA report shows brands want better alignment with business results and greater transparency.