CANTV, a Venezuelan state-owned ISP, has reportedly started blocking traffic to Binance, one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world.
Web push notifications: The key to boosting engagement
By Sean Tinney July 2, 2024
There are over 1 billion websites on the world wide web.
Did your jaw just hit the floor?
That’s a staggering amount of competition for web traffic.
Driving web traffic is hard enough. But when you consider returning website visitors converted more than 73% more than first time visitors, it can feel even more overwhelming.
How on earth can you convince people to visit your website twice?
The secret is with web push notifications.
Want to make web push notifications a part of your marketing strategy? Read on to learn how to create push notifications that make it easy to drive traffic back to your website and make more sales.
Moreover, combining email marketing with web push notifications creates a powerful, multi-channel campaign that boosts engagement and revenue.
What are web push notifications?
Imagine having a tool that sends friendly nudges directly to your visitors’ desktops or laptops. These are web push notifications—short, clickable messages that pop up when your visitors have their browser open, even if they’re not currently on your website.
Once someone opts in, they don’t need to be on your site to get these notifications. You’ve probably seen these notifications yourself; they’re those small notices asking if you want to stay updated with new content or offers from a site you visited.
They typically show up in the corner of the screen and act as alerts for exclusive deals, offers, promotions, or freebies. The goal is simple: to bring your audience back to your website or landing page and encourage them to take action.
Here’s an example of an opt-in message:
Once they opt-in, they’ll begin receiving web push notifications. Here’s what they’ll look like when someone is online.
Benefits of web push notifications
1. Easy to opt-in
Opting in is super simple—just the click of a button. When visitors click “allow,” they’ll start getting your notifications right away.
2. Instant communication
We all know promoting content can be tough with so many platforms and competitors out there. Web push notifications cut through the noise, instantly showing up directly on your subscribers’ browsers.
3. Owned communication channel
Unlike social media, where algorithms decide who sees your posts, you own your web push notifications audience. You reach 100% of your opted-in subscribers directly. It’s your audience, your rules.
4. Drive traffic without advertising costs
Want to drive traffic back to your site without spending money on ads? Web push notifications are the answer. You can let your subscribers know about limited-time sales or exclusive offers for much less than paid ads.
5. Build deeper connections
Web push notifications empower you to treat your subscribers like VIPs by sending them exclusive content and updates. Building these deeper connections can turn casual website visitors into loyal brand advocates.
6. Grow your email list
You can use your existing email subscribers to grow your web push notification list and vice versa. By driving traffic to your sign-up pages, you can increase both your email and notification subscribers, creating a multi-channel communication network.
7. Complement your email marketing
Web push notifications are a great complement to any email marketing campaign. They don’t replace emails but, instead, complement them. With this multi-channel approach, you get more touchpoints to connect with your audience, making your strategy even stronger.
8. Save time
Creating web push notifications is quick and easy. These tight little messages take less time to make than other marketing techniques, which allows you to effectively communicate more quickly.
9. Communicate limited-time offers instantly
Keep your subscribers in the loop about limited-time offers as soon as they launch. This instant communication ensures they don’t miss out on great opportunities, keeping them engaged and, moreover, happy and appreciative of the deal you gave them.
Real-world examples of web push notifications
Motivate customers with daily tips
Donna Partow, a content creator and motivational speaker, uses web push notifications to deliver daily reminders and content for her challenges.
“I’m really excited about using web push notifications for limited-time challenges. Each day, I send a reminder with a link to keep them moving forward on their goal. My audience appreciates receiving these notifications because they are beneficial.”
– Donna Partow
Notify followers instantly when you create new content
Jennifer Reinhard, a cloth diaper educator, uses web push notifications to share new and evergreen content with her audience. This method ensures her educational material reaches readers exactly when they need it.
“Web push notifications are another method to reach my readers. They may not read the email or see Facebook posts, but they will see the web push notification because it pops up on their desktop when they’re online — exactly when they need it.”
– Jennifer Reinhard
Drive traffic to specific articles
Jamila Bannister, a personal branding strategist, uses web push notifications to drive traffic to her online magazine and specific articles. This helps maintain a steady flow of readers to her content.
“I use web push notifications to drive traffic back to my online magazine and specific articles. This keeps my audience engaged with my most up-to-date content.”
– Jamila Bannister
Increase sales with limited-time offers
John Grubb, owner of Keystone Computer Concepts, uses web push notifications to send time-sensitive security alerts and special offers. This strategy helps him maintain customer engagement without overwhelming them with emails.
“Web push notifications are really important because I can send out time-sensitive offers without additional emails. This keeps my customers informed and engaged.”
– John Grubb
Components of a web push notification
A: Logo
Including a brand logo or image on a web push notification provides instant recognition from a user. It’s a highly visual way for a subscriber to recognize that the message is coming from your brand and can drive them to read the notification and take action.
B: Title
The title of the web push notification is also called the header text. This is the piece of text that will catch the attention of a subscriber and encourage them to read on.
C: Message
This vital section is where you can elaborate on your message. This is your opportunity to concisely explain the value a subscriber receives from clicking on your push notification and visiting your site. Answer questions like: what will your subscribers receive by visiting your site? How long will the offer last?
Keep in mind, however, that web push notifications are meant to be short and sweet. Avoid jargon and use simple and direct language.
D: Domain
This is the URL that the user subscribed to. Including the source link in your message can’t be changed. It not only serves to remind the subscriber of your website, but aids in recognition and awareness of your online presence.
Best practices for web push notifications
Follow the best practices below to create web push notifications your audience will no doubt appreciate.
1 – Copy is king
The content of your web push notifications should be compelling and concise. Every word counts when you’re dealing with restrictive character limits, so make sure your message is clear and impactful.
2 – One topic per push
It’s best to stick to just one message per notification. Clear and focused messages end up with higher click-through rates, so don’t dilute your messages by pushing two things at once.
3 – Create urgency
Being specific about time sensitivity and urgency is a great way to drive action. Instead of saying “Flash Sale Today,” try “Only a few hours left to save 25%.” This very specific urgency encourages clicks right now.
4 – Include social proof
You should include testimonials, reviews, and social proof to gain the trust of your audience. Pointing things out like “500 people have already registered today” or “This post has over 10,000 shares” reassures subscribers of your legitimacy and encourages them to act.
5 – Value first
Always provide value before asking for anything in return. Wouldn’t you want that when you’re buying from a brand? By offering value first, your audience is more likely to engage with and trust you.
6 – Use power words
Power words like “now,” “you,” “new,” and “free” can evoke emotion and drive action. These types of words make your notifications more compelling, urgent, and clickable. We put together 8 power words for you to use in your emails, but they also have an impact on any marketing copy you write.
7 – Create a sense of FOMO
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is a powerful motivator. Use it to create urgency and drive clicks. Limited-time offers or exclusive deals make subscribers more likely to act quickly.
8 – Exclusivity
Make your subscribers feel special with exclusive deals and promotions. Try highlighting the benefits of being part of a members-only program to boost their sense of belonging and value.
9 – Keep it short & sweet
Web push notifications have strict character limits. Aim for around 120 characters for the message, 50 for the title, 15 for the call to action, and one image. Communicate your message effectively within these constraints.
10 – Use emotion
Incorporate emotion into your notifications through humor, empathy, and references to trends or pop culture. Ensure your references are understandable and align with your brand voice. Genuine emotion resonates best when it serves your audience.
Get web push notifications
If you’re finding it challenging to reach more people and keep them engaged, web push notifications might be the solution you’ve been looking for. This powerful tool allows you to send direct messages straight to your visitors’ browsers, helping you expand your online reach and connect with your audience in real-time.
With just a simple click, your visitors can opt-in to receive notifications, ensuring they stay updated with your latest content, offers, and announcements.
And the best part? AWeber’s web push notifications are included at no additional cost with AWeber Free, AWeber Lite, and Plus plans. This means you can start with this powerful tool without any extra cost, making it easier than ever to boost your marketing strategy and achieve your business goals.Start using web push notifications today and experience the difference they can make.
Sign up for AWeber and explore how web push notifications can transform your approach to connecting with your audience.
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Here’s How I Do It With No PR Background
When my sister and I started Vinat to make buying wine online more accessible, I thought that any kind of PR was going to be prohibitively expensive for our small brand. Previously, I had worked in corporate finance, so I knew exactly how much the companies I worked for spent on engagements with PR firms.
And then we attended a webinar where we learned about platforms that help businesses write and publish press releases that get picked up by major news outlets like The Associated Press.
It was less expensive than we’d have expected ($125 on the platform we went with). It was a cost that felt very doable, so we decided to test putting out a press release as part of our launch strategy.
I was blown away: Within a week of publishing this first press release, we saw our web traffic increase by 220 percent. Not only did several publications in the wine industry republish the release, but we also had inbound requests from journalists who wanted to include us in stories they were working on, brands who wanted to partner with us, and even potential investors who wanted to learn more about what we were doing.
This cost us a third of the price of influencer marketing tests we had done and drove far more sales and visibility. Plus, having our brand associated with a legacy publication like The Associated Press helped improve credibility, something that is critical for a young food and beverage brand.
We’ve since published a new press release about once a month and have continued to see the impact on website traffic, sales, general brand visibility, and consumer trust. Best of all, it’s really not that hard.
Here’s what I wish other business owners knew about publishing press releases so they can see similar benefits.
Choose the right angles
Initially, writing a press release felt intimidating — we thought we needed to be announcing huge news, like landing a celebrity client or appearing on Good Morning America.
We’ve since learned that announcements don’t have to be big to be newsworthy — they just have to be interesting. Many topics can make a press release compelling to journalists or potential partners, such as:
Tying it to current events
Our first press release came out in advance of Women’s History Month. We mentioned that our brand is making wine more approachable for women and made it clear to journalists that we could be a great fit for any stories they were working on for the holiday.
Pulling in recent studies
Anytime there’s a new industry market report, there are probably journalists writing about it, so if you can tie your press release to that data, you may increase your chances of getting coverage.
In our first press release, we also shared recent research that had come about about women’s perception of wine labels, underscoring how our approach of rebranding wines could bring in more female buyers.
Associating yourself with well-known brands
About a week after our launch, we were invited to serve our wine at a collection release with Wolf & Badger, a store, and Maison Tai, a fashion brand, in New York City, and we published a press release about it.
While we got less press coverage from this type of press release, we were able to leverage them to get more partnerships.
When you’re considering writing a press release about a facet of your business, ask yourself: Who cares? Why is this newsworthy or important? Is it relevant to what journalists are covering right now?
Sometimes, determining relevance involves a little bit of Googling, but other times, it could simply mean paying attention to the topics and themes circulating in industry publications.
We also found resources like Gloria Chou’s small business podcast and Ronjini Joshua’s DIY PR newsletter helpful in learning more about what media is interested in and when. (For example, we were surprised to find that pitching for holiday gift guides starts as early as July!)
Learn to write a compelling press release
Writing a document that will go out to professional journalists may seem overwhelming, but I’ve got good news: Press releases are meant to be short and concise.
We make sure all of our press releases have these simple elements:
A catchy headline and a short summary of the news
You want the announcement you’re making to be front and center in both the headline and the first sentence of your press release, and the headline to be interesting enough that folks want to click to learn more.
I love leveraging AI tools for the headline: You can drop in a written press release and have ChatGPT or similar apps suggest catchy titles, giving you ideas to start with. (Just double check they aren’t already being used by another company before clicking publish!)
Boilerplate information about your company
Many people reading this press release will have never heard of your brand, so include a short paragraph explaining who you are and what you do.
An insightful quote
My sister and I always write up a relevant quote from one of us so that, if a writer wants to publish an article related to the press release, they already have a snippet they can include without even reaching out to us.
Information on relevant current events or studies
As mentioned above, if we can, we’ll include a few sentences tying our news to a trend journalists may currently be interested in.
And that’s it! A paragraph or two is enough to pique interest and make publications want to reach out to you to learn more.
After writing up our press release, we’ll often use Grammarly to help us make language more concise or ensure we’re conveying a professional tone. EZ Newswire, the platform we went with, also has an AI writing tool that creates a draft based on basic information you drop in, which is incredibly helpful for folks not familiar with press release structure.
Maximize each release
Press releases are multifaceted marketing tools, as they can be used for promotion on other channels as well. A lot of times people don’t realize a press release was written by the company — they think you’re just getting coverage.
We typically post an announcement about every press release we send out on our Instagram, company LinkedIn, and each of our personal LinkedIn profiles.
After publishing our first press release, we also did more individual outreach, sending it to people in our network who are connected to journalists or who might offer credibility if they like the post about our launch announcement. This took more legwork, but it helped maximize the traction of that release.
We’ve also found press releases helpful in getting our foot in the door for exciting brand opportunities. For example, my sister has a friend who works at a major publication in NYC, so she shared the release with her and ended up getting invited to host a happy hour for the editorial team. When I was recently pitching us to help out with an event for New York Tech Week, I was able to include links to our press releases to help the team learn more about us.
Finally, we’ve started building closer relationships with journalists in our industry to send them a heads-up about a press release before we publish it or even offer them an exclusive on the story.
We’ve found the most success taking a niche approach to this outreach — focusing on local newspapers in Austin (where our company is based) and our hometown as well as journalists who specifically write about the wine industry or female-founded projects — since they may have fewer people contacting them constantly than brand-name, general-coverage publications. Over time, we expect this approach to help us get even more traction when we make company announcements.
Ultimately, publishing press releases isn’t about driving immediate sales. It’s about boosting our credibility, getting our name out there, opening up new opportunities, and making our two-person, four-month-old company look incredibly legit.
25 Free Online Courses to Launch Your Work at Home Career
Are you looking for free online courses to help you launch a home-based career or business? Then, keep reading for a huge list of resources!
When I started my work at home search, I had no clue what I wanted to do.
What’s funny is I knew all the things I didn’t want to do, like work in the nursing field, talk on the phone, or any occupation with a set schedule. And from the emails that I receive daily, this is a common theme among individuals who want to work from home.
If you’re ready to make money from home, but you’re not sure which direction to take, or you want to switch careers, there is a solution. There are many free courses, guides, e-books, and resources to help you take the guesswork out of this question.
Best of all, these courses are 100% online, so you don’t have to worry about taking time away from your family.
Are you ready to find your dream work at home career path?
Here are 25 of the best FREE online courses and resources to help you grow and find a new remote career.
1. Free: Become a Booked Out Virtual Assistant (VA)
If you’re detail-oriented and would like to help business owners stay on top of their daily to-do lists, then sign up for Abbey Ashley’s free virtual assistant training, Become a Booked Out Virtual Assistant. Abbey started her VA business back in 2013 and was able to double her corporate job income in just 30 days while she was on maternity leave – pretty impressive!
When you sign up, you’ll learn:
- How you can quickly earn $100K annually working as a virtual assistant
- What paying clients are searching for in a VA
- How to find real clients who are waiting for your services
- Sign up here for this free webinar
2. Free Data Analytics Course
Would you like to break into the high-paying tech field? If so, this free data analytics course will give you an overview of how to break into the data analytics field. And no, you don’t need a college degree!
In Charlotte Chaze’s free course, you’ll learn:
- The best free resources to learn data analytics fast
- How to create a portfolio to showcase your projects
- A resume template for this high-paying tech job
- LinkedIn tips so you can land your first data analytics job
- Data analyst salary guide so you know how much money to ask for
- Sign up here for this free online course
3. Start and Grow a Thriving Dog Treat Bakery
Do you love dogs? Do you enjoy baking? Then perhaps starting a dog treat business from home is your calling! In Kristin’s free training workshop, you’ll learn about the pet industry, selling dog treats online and in-person, how to price your treats, how to earn $500 to $1,000 per month, and so much more!
To sign up for this free training, click on the purple Free Training Workshop button to get started!
4. How to Start and Run a Digital Tax Business
If you’re mathematically-natured and detail-oriented, perhaps starting and running a digital tax business from home is your calling.
In this free tax business workshop from Ben Robinson, you’ll learn:
- How much money you can make running a tax business
- What the work is like
- Who qualifies to own a tax business
- What it takes to be successful in this industry
- What tools and tech software are needed
- How to get clients (even as an introvert)
- Sign up here for this free workshop
5. How to Become a Bookkeeper
Want to make $60 or more an hour working from home as a bookkeeper? The Bookkeepers offers a free 3-part online training series that tells you the characteristics of good bookkeepers, income potential, costs to get started, how to market your business, and the next steps for getting started as a virtual bookkeeper.
6. How to Become a Voice Actor
Have you been told that you have a pleasant voice? Does recording radio commercials and audiobooks sound appealing? If so, check out voice artist and trainer Julie Eickhoff’s free mini-course.
This free mini-course will give you an inside peek into the world of voice acting, covering topics like:
- What voice-over work entails
- The background you need to be successful
- Skills you’ll need to learn
- How to get work
- How much money you can earn
- Equipment requirements
- How to learn everything you need to know
- Sign up here for this free mini-course
7. Pinterest Virtual Assistant Business
If you love browsing Pinterest, you can make good money starting a Pinterest virtual assistant business from home! In this free training workshop taught by Kristin Larsen, you’ll learn nine services you can offer as a Pinterest virtual assistant, what to charge for your services, and how to land your first client.
8. How to Start a General Proofreading Business
Do grammar and spelling errors drive you crazy? Do you constantly correct people’s texts and Facebook posts? Then Caitlin Pyle’s free workshop is for you!
In this free 76-minute proofreading workshop, you’ll learn:
- Five signs proofreading is the perfect career for you
- How proofreading can be your ticket to freedom and financial security
- Easy ways to attract proofreading clients
- Sign up here for this free workshop
9. Start a Profitable Reselling Business
Are you great at finding hidden gems at garage sales and flea markets? Then, your passion for visiting yard sales and second-hand stores turns into a profitable reselling business. Rob and Melissa Stephenson earn six figures a year reselling flea market finds online, and now they are teaching others how to do the same.
In their free 75-minute workshop, you’ll learn:
- Five signs reselling items is the perfect fit for you
- How reselling can be your ticket to freedom and financial security
- Three insider secrets that will help you grow your flipping profits
10. Earn Money Selling Printables Online
You’ve read stories about people creating and selling printables on Etsy, but how do you get started, and can you really make money with this side hustle? Business partners Julie Berninger and Cody Berman both make money selling printables online, and they’ve taught 10,000 students how to do the same.
In this free workshop, you’ll learn:
- What kind of printables should I sell to make money?
- What are some good printable ideas?
- What do I need to start an Etsy shop?
- How much does it cost to get started?
- How can I make sure my Etsy shop is a success and not a flop?
- Sign up here for this free workshop
11. General Transcription Foundations: Free Workshop
You’ve heard about transcription work (transcribing audio files into text), but what exactly does this work entail? In this free mini-course, veteran transcriber Janet Shaughnessy explains the industry, how much you can earn as a transcriber, where to find clients, and what you need to start. She also includes nine signs that transcription is not a good fit for you. She also talks about medical transcription in this interview — be sure to read if you were considering that occupation!
12. I Love Print-On-Demand
In this free course, Jessica Roop shares her expertise on how she earns $500 to $1,500 selling print-on-demand (POD) products from home. She covers why this business model is amazing for aspiring side hustlers and 17 hot POD products you can sell to make money from home! If designing T-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and more sounds like a fun way to make money, sign up for this free guide here.
13. Pretty Focused – Food Photographer
If you love cooking food and taking photos, check out this free training from Melodee Lynn. In this free course that contains four modules, you’ll learn everything you need to know about becoming a food photographer for bloggers. Topics covered include:
- Why bloggers hire photographers
- The demand for these professionals
- How much food photographers can earn
- What the work is like
- What type of equipment you’ll need
- How to set up your home studio
- And more!
You don’t need to be a professional photographer to get started. This course is perfect for beginners! You can sign up for this free training here.
14. TEFL Hero
If you’d like a remote job as an ESL (English as a Second Language) tutor, you’ll need to get your TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification. TEFL Hero offers a free 40-hour certification that includes four modules, 32 lessons, five assessments, and an instant certificate of completion.
15. How to Become a Successful Amazon Influencer
In this free eBook from Jessica Larrew, you’ll learn how to make money from Amazon reviewing products you already own. Including the things you’ll need to get started publishing videos, how to get approved for the Amazon influencer program, and how to create videos that generate sales.
More Free Online Learning Courses and Educational Resources
16. Grow with Google
Grow with Google is a non-profit program offering free online courses, certifications, and live training in digital marketing, career development, and data. Many of the courses include certificates of completion once you’re done and pass the end exam. Formats include online self-paced courses, and others are live webinars.
Some of their popular courses include:
- Learn the fundamentals of digital marketing and help grow your business or career
- Learn how to write a CV, prepare for interviews, and land that next job
- Get an introduction to code, find out how it works, what it can do, and how it can benefit you
17. Alison
Alison is an online learning platform where you can take 5,000 courses and diploma programs for free! They also have paid premium options that remove advertisements, offer discounts on certifications, provide attestation letters, and access to paid courses. With Alison, you can take free courses in IT, sales and marketing, health, management, engineering, teaching, academics, and more! They even have a mobile app for Android and iOS devices so you can participate in courses on your phone.
18. LinkedIn Learning
Formerly called Lynda, LinkedIn Learning hosts over 21,000 online courses and learning paths taught by industry experts. The main concentrations are project management, business, design, web development, photography, cloud computing, and marketing. With LinkedIn Learning, you’re able to access as many classes as you’d like for a monthly fee of $34.99. But they let you test the waters free for 30 days. When you sign-up for a free trial, you’ll have to enter your credit card number, so be sure to mark your calendar so you can cancel your trial (unless you’d like to keep it). Otherwise, your credit card will automatically be billed.
19. OpenCourseWare
OpenCourseWare sites are free classes offered by educational institutions and universities like MIT, Harvard University, and Stanford that can be accessed online from anywhere in the world. The goal is to make learning available to everyone regardless of income or location.
While you won’t receive a college degree or certification for taking these courses, you can boost your skills and knowledge right from the comfort of your home.
Some sites that offer free OpenCourseWare are Khan Academy, Caltech, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania.
20. Skillshare
Skillshare is an online learning community that hosts over 25,000 online classes on a variety of topics. Course categories include animation, design, illustration, lifestyle, photography, business, writing, entrepreneurship, social media, and more! With Skillshare, you can create a custom curriculum explicitly based on your needs and passions, and best of all, it’s budget-friendly – only $32 a month (or $168 annually) for as many courses as you want to consume! You can get a free 30-day trial using this link, or you can explore all of their free classes here.
21. Udemy
Another place to search for free online courses is Udemy. Many online instructors offer complimentary classes in HTML, business, IT, personal development, design, marketing, and lots more. I’ve never tried Udemy, but their website boasts more than 10,000 free courses, and all you need to do is search for the keyword free. They also offer a free 7-day trial on their Personal Plan Membership; after that, it’s $20.00 a month.
Some of their free online courses include:
- Web Design for Web Developers: Build Beautiful Websites!
- Useful Excel for Beginners
- Introduction To Python Programming
- Javascript Essentials
22. Coursera
Coursera is an online learning platform that has partnered with over 275 leading companies and universities like Duke, Stanford, Google, and Facebook to prepare you for an in-demand career.
Through Coursera, you can obtain an online degree, certification, find a new career, or advance your current career. Coursera has many different options for joining, and depending on your goals; you can take courses for free or join one of their affordable training options.
- Gain New Knowledge: 2,700+ free courses
- Learn New Job Skills: Starts at $9.99
- Specializations: $49 a month
- Professional Certificates: $49 a month
- Coursera Plus (7,000 courses): $59 a month
- Master Track Certificates: Starts at $2,000
- Degree Programs: Starts at $9,000
Some of their course subjects and degrees include data science, business, computer science, IT, personal development, language learning, math, social sciences, and many others.
23. Meta Blueprint for Business
If you want to work as a social media manager or you need to enhance your social media marketing skills, Meta for Business offers free online classes for Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. Courses are self-guided and include such topics as:
- Prepare to bring your business online
- Attract an audience
- Improve your creative strategy
- Enhance your ads in Ads Manager
Some courses even include a free online certificate, which is great to add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.
24. IBM Training – Free Digital Training
Whether you want to gain new skills, earn credentials, or switch careers, IBM Training can help you achieve your goals with its free online training. They offer free courses in automation, business operations, cloud, data, AI, IT infrastructure, security, and supply chain. Courses range from 30 minutes to four hours in length, and once you pass your quiz with an 80, you’ll receive a certificate of completion. IBM also offers more robust training programs that you can purchase an annual subscription to participate in.
25. Free Coding Courses With Codeacademy
If you want to work in the tech industry, explore Codeacademy. They have a wide variety of free courses in AI, coding, analytics, development, web design, and more! With their basic training courses, you’ll get access to training materials, community support, and resources. When you upgrade to their Plus Plan, you’ll get access to their full catalog of online courses, skill paths, projects, and certificates of completion for $34.99 a month or $17.49 a month if you choose their annual plan.
Conclusion
So there you have it—a massive list of free online courses and resources to help you launch and grow your work at home career. No matter what path you want to take—join the remote workforce and earn a full-time income, start your own business, or launch a part-time side hustle—this list has something for everybody. Sign up with as many as you like and see which occupations and career paths best fit your unique skills, passions, and situation!
Which ones sound interesting to you? Do you know of another free course that should be on the list? Drop me a note below. I’d love to hear about it.
Originally published January 16, 2017. Content updated in August 2024.
Survey Reveals: 55% Of U.S. Workers Have Job Security Concerns
In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and economic uncertainty, we embarked on a comprehensive survey to gauge the sentiments of the American workforce regarding job security over the next five years.
Drawing from a meticulously screened pool of 1,200 U.S. residents with full-time employment, we aimed to uncover the underlying anxieties and perceptions shaping the current employment landscape.
Why We Conducted This Study
Our investigation was spurred by the alarming wave of layoffs sweeping across industries — particularly in tech — the speculative yet tangible impact of artificial intelligence on the future of work, and uncertainty surrounding the global economy.
According to Layoffs.fyi, there have been more than 296,000 tech layoffs since 2023, with 33,000 coming in the first 5 weeks of 2024.
Hundreds of large companies — including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Spotify — have made headlines for reducing their workforce by up to 25%.
Part of the cause is excessive hiring during the pandemic. Roger Lee, the founder of Layoffs.fyi, told CNN that many tech companies are trying to “correct for their over-hiring during the pandemic surge.”
However, over-hiring isn’t the only cause. Dataminr CEO Ted Bailey — who laid off 20% of staff in November 2023 — states that AI is playing a role in their personnel decisions.
According to a memo shared with TechCrunch, Bailey says that ”recent rapid advancements of their AI platform” contributed to the layoffs.
The uncertainty surrounding the economy is also impacting public perception. While Brian Rose, a senior U.S. economist at UBS, told the New York Times that he predicts a “soft landing” for the U.S. economy after years of COVID-induced inflation, the inflation rate remains high compared to the last decade.
This reality isn’t lost on Americans — a Gallup poll reveals 63% of Americans say the economy is getting worse, with the same amount saying inflated prices pose a moderate or severe financial hardship.
This environment of post-pandemic cuts, uncertainty surrounding the impact of AI, and economic fears prompted us to seek answers: how do full-time U.S. workers feel about their job security amidst these changes?
Unveiling American Workers’ Growing Anxiety
Fear of job loss has rippled across the American workforce — 54.58% of full-time workers have increased concerns about job loss, with 27.08% feeling significant concern.
Our survey cross-referenced these results with a variety of demographic factors, including age, gender, education, income levels, industry, job role, and company size. Here are the most interesting findings:
Men are more concerned than women. Men expressed greater concern (62.87%) than women (47.53%), possibly reflecting the 3:1 male-to-female gender distribution in tech firms.
Higher earners are more concerned. Individuals in the highest income brackets feel most vulnerable, with 75% of those making 125k to 150k and 72.48% of those making 150k and above expressing concern. This may be swayed by the higher salaries in the volatile tech industry.
There’s a generational divide. The concern was most palpable among the 25 to 44 age group, with 62.2% expressing concerns. This showcases a generational divide in job security perceptions, as less than 50% of those 45 and older share their sentiment. Younger people may be more aware of the capabilities of AI and are also more likely to hold less senior positions that may be at increased risk of being cut.
More education = more job security anxiety. Individuals with at least four years of college education express more concern (61.02%) than those with less, possibly due to the higher stakes associated with their roles.
Executives are very concerned. Out of all job roles, high-level roles such as C-level executives (85% concerned) and Directors (78.38% concerned) express the highest levels of concern, which may indicate the visibility people in these roles have regarding the future of their industries.
Workers in larger companies feel particularly vulnerable. Those working in larger companies (500 – 1000 employees) feel particularly at risk (74.33%). This sharply contrasts with the lessened concerns of self-employed workers (42.47%) and those in smaller companies (below 25 employees, 45.38%).
The global economy weighs heavily on most. 73.61% of respondents have increased concerns due to recent global economic trends.
Job Security Concerns By Industry
When we break down job security fears by industry, it’s clear that the tech sector is most concerned. Information — Services And Data (89.66%) and Software (74.42%) are the industries where workers are most concerned about job loss.
This is significantly higher than less tech-centric sectors like Fashion/Apparel (30%), Transportation and Warehousing (41.35%), and Personal Services (42.93%).
This infographic provides a full breakdown of each industry’s level of concern:
AI’s Looming Shadow
A significant portion of respondents (54.58%) anticipate that AI will impact their job security within the next five years.
Sectors that have a high reliance on computer use — like Software (67.44%), Finance (67.57%), and Human Resources (64.29%) — express the highest levels of concern.
In contrast, people in sectors that involve more human-to-human interaction — such as education (43.04%) and real estate (44.68%) — are least concerned about the impact of AI on their livelihoods.
People in IT are noticeably more worried than anyone else. 72.42% of people in IT positions are concerned, with nearly half (48.28%) completely agreeing that AI will affect their job security. Less than 7% believe it won’t have any impact.
These fears may be warranted, as the nature of how we work is quickly shifting. A study from OpenAI estimates that 19% of U.S. workers could see 50% of their workplace tasks impacted by publicly available GPT-4 technology, and the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs report predicts that 44% of workers’ skills will be disrupted between 2023 and 2028.
In addition, these shifts are likely to impact job security. A report from McKinsey states that 30% of hours currently worked could be automated by 2030, and a Goldman Sachs report suggests that 300 million full-time jobs may be exposed to automation in the coming years.
Recovery From Job Loss
We also asked respondents about their ability to recover from job loss.
If faced with job loss, 42% of full-time workers don’t have enough savings to support them until they find a new job, and 38.58% are not confident in their ability to secure new employment within 3 months.
According to Statista, there are 132.59 million full-time employees in the United States, which means 55.68 million Americans — and their dependents — would have immediate financial struggles if faced with job loss.
This aligns with recent data on the decline in Americans’ emergency savings. According to Bankrate’s 2023 Emergency Savings Report, 49% of adults have fewer savings compared to a year ago, and 22% have no emergency savings at all.
The financial impact of job loss seems less severe in the tech-related industry sectors, where only 29.17% feel financially unprepared for potential unemployment. However, with Statista reporting 3 million U.S. residents working in tech, that still constitutes a million people. 38.89% feel unconfident about finding a new job within 3 months, similar to the other industries’ respondents.
It’s clear that sudden unemployment would cause immediate financial problems for many Americans, and threats to job security from many fronts are causing a majority of workers to feel the weight of that stress.
Potential Paths Forward
The widespread concerns about AI replacing human workers raise an important question: what can Americans do now to AI-proof their careers?
It’s important to note that the proliferation of AI isn’t only set to eliminate jobs — it should also create new opportunities. A World Economic Forum report states that while it may disrupt an estimated 85 million jobs by 2025, the new technology may simultaneously create 97 million new jobs. Workers who learn to use AI now may have an easier time taking advantage of these new positions.
While the rapid advancement of AI technology makes it hard to provide concrete guidelines for AI upskilling, Harvard Business Review and Fast Company have a few suggestions:
- Become familiar with available AI tools and integrate them into your workflow.
- Hone soft skills that machines strive to emulate, such as communication and empathy.
- Build strong relationships with colleagues and peers.
- Cultivate unique expertise and develop your personal brand.
An IBM study also found that 87% of executives believe job roles are more likely to be augmented than replaced by generative AI, lending further credence to AI upskilling as a safeguard against unemployment.
For those who are still choosing a career — or are open to a change — it may also be worthwhile to explore careers that are least likely to be automated. The U.S. Career Institute has compiled a list of 65 jobs with a projected 0% risk of being automated, with options including careers in medicine, social services, engineering, public service, and education.
We surveyed 1,200 vetted US full-time employees spanning a diverse range of industries to capture a comprehensive snapshot of the American workforce’s sentiments on job security.
Our survey also captured full demographic profiles of all respondents, allowing us to cross-reference data with a variety of demographic data, including:
- Gender
- Education level
- Income level
- Ethnicity
- Age
- Job role
- Industry
- Company size
Here is a demographic breakdown of the survey participant:
Gender
Age
| 25 – 34 | 26.50% |
| 35 – 44 | 23.83% |
| 45 – 54 | 16.50% |
| > 54 | 20.42% |
Ethnicity
| Asian | 3.50% |
| Black | 12.50% |
| Hispanic | 3.58% |
| Latino | 1.67% |
| White | 67.42% |
| Multiracial | 2.75% |
| Other | 4.00% |
| Prefer not to say | 3.42% |
Education
| High school | 30.25% |
| Vocational/Technical college | 18.00% |
| University | 29.17% |
| Post-graduate | 16.58% |
Income Levels (Per Year)
| Between $25,000 and $49,999 | 22.33% |
| Between $50,000 and $74,999 | 18.58% |
| Between $75,000 and $99,999 | 15.42% |
| Between $100,000 and $124,999 | 9.33% |
| Between $125,000 and $149,999 | 8.67% |
| $150,000 or more | 9.08% |
| Prefer not to say | 2.25% |
Company Size
| 2-5 | 7.17% |
| 6-10 | 6.42% |
| 11-25 | 7.17% |
| 26-50 | 9.08% |
| 51-100 | 9.25% |
| 101-250 | 7.25% |
| 251-500 | 10.50% |
| 501-1000 | 12.33% |
| 1001-5000 | 8.83% |
| Greater than 5000 | 11.33% |
| Prefer not to say | 1.67% |
Implications of Study
Our study shows the American workforce has widespread concerns about job security, especially among tech workers, younger workers, higher earners, and those at larger companies.
These concerns are fueled by recent layoffs, the prospect of widespread AI automation, and a perception of instability underpinning the global economy.
AI automation is a particularly concerning threat to job security, with prominent companies predicting AI will be able to automate many tasks and roles. Computer-based jobs seem particularly vulnerable to augmentation or replacement.
Coupled with the inability of many Americans to cope financially with a loss of employment, it’s clear that potential hardship may lie ahead for the average American.
However, early movers who adapt their skills to include AI use or switch to careers unlikely to be affected by AI will likely have a smoother transition into the new era of work.
Remote Senior Fullstack Engineer (Ruby/Rails) at TimeZest
Company
TimeZest makes it easy for end users to schedule appointments with IT service providers. Since launching in 2019, TimeZest has grown amazingly fast, and we’re a critical piece of software for over 1,000 businesses.
We’ve been a remote-only company since the day we launched, and currently have 22 great people across Europe, Asia and the United States. We have a relaxed working environment and use just enough process to keep ourselves efficient. We’re bootstrapped and profitable.
Role overview
As a result of our growth, we’re looking for a Senior Full Stack Engineer to join our team.
We offer engineering challenges to deliver an elegant, reliable and performant user experience while dealing with the complex nature of the APIs we use and our business domain under the hood.
We’re looking for people who can work independently, who’ll help us discover new technologies and better ways to work, and who are as passionate about keeping our customers delighted as we are.
Our Stack
Ruby on Rails 7, PostgreSQL, Sidekiq, TypeScript and React, all running on Heroku.
What we’re looking for
- 5+ years development experience in Ruby on Rails in real production environments.
- Strong proficiency of Ruby and JavaScript programming languages
- Strong knowledge of relational databases such as PostgreSQL
- Ability to deliver entire new features based on functional specs
- Experience working in complex business domains
- Proficiency with testing frameworks such as RSpec and Capybara
- Familiarity with Git/Github and agile development workflows.
- Fluent business English
Nice to Have
- Frontend development experience, particularly in TypeScript and React.
- Experience with APIs and integrating to 3rd party software.
- A good eye for UI details and working with design systems
- Previous experience working in a remote role.
This is a permanent, full-time position with a salary paid monthly. It is a remote position, and you can be based anywhere in the world, provided that you have 2-3 hours daily overlap with Central European Standard Time.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
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The Ultimate Cryptocurrency to Buy With $1,000
XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), the native cryptocurrency of the Ripple blockchain, has declined more than 80% from its all-time high in early 2018. The bulls had originally expected XRP to gain more traction as more companies routed their gross payments, remittances, and foreign exchange transactions through Ripple’s blockchain. Ripple claimed its ledger could provide its customers with secure, instant, and “nearly free global financial transactions of any size with no chargebacks.”
Several smaller financial institutions — including Travelex Bank, Tranglo, and Sentbe — tapped Ripple’s network as a cheaper alternative to the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) protocol used by most banks. However, most of those customers only used Ripple for fiat currency transactions instead of adopting XRP as an alternative payment method. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also sued Ripple in December 2020 for raising $1.3 billion through an offering of XRP tokens, alleging the sale constituted an illegal transaction of unregistered securities.
Meanwhile, many investors claimed XRP wasn’t even a true cryptocurrency because it wasn’t mined with the proof-of-work (PoW) protocol or staked through the proof-of-stake (PoS) protocol like other tokens. Instead, it pre-mined its entire supply of 100 billion tokens prior to its market debut, locked up 55 billion of those tokens in escrow accounts, and periodically released those tokens to stabilize its liquidity and supply.
All of these issues, along with rising interest rates and the crypto winter, crushed XRP’s price. However, I believe this high-risk token might still turn $1,000 into tens of thousands of dollars over the next few years as some major catalysts kick in.
The biggest near-term catalyst for XRP
The SEC lawsuit was the biggest headwind for XRP, but it finally concluded in early August with a favorable ruling for Ripple. The SEC had initially demanded a $2 billion fine, which would have exceeded the size of the token offering. But it subsequently lowered that demand to $1 billion plus interest. Ripple repeatedly insisted it would only pay a $10 million fine.
The trial finally ended with U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres imposing a modest $125 million fine on Ripple. Torres had previously ruled that XRP tokens couldn’t be classified as unregistered securities, and she reiterated that view in her latest ruling. Without that lawsuit hanging over XRP, its price could head higher through the end of the year.
The other major catalysts for XRP
While most investors consider the favorable resolution of the SEC lawsuit to be the biggest near-term catalyst for XRP, we shouldn’t ignore the other potential tailwinds. First, Ripple plans to launch its own stablecoin (Ripple USD) and $10 million in tokenized U.S. T-bills on the XRP ledger later this year. Second, Ripple is reportedly getting ready to upgrade the XRP ledger with new tools for developing decentralized finance (DeFi) apps and dynamic non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Those new projects, along with other applications, could broaden Ripple’s appeal and stabilize XRP’s price.
Lastly, lower interest rates will probably drive more investors toward speculative cryptocurrencies again. Some analysts believe the Federal Reserve could slash its benchmark rates as early as September to allay fears of a recession, and that decision could drive XRP and other altcoins a lot higher.
But don’t ignore the long-term challenges
XRP’s price could bottom out this year, but its growth could still be throttled by competition from faster blockchains like Ethereum and Solana as well as the unpredictable macro headwinds. The expansion of Ripple’s blockchain with new services also isn’t guaranteed to lift XRP’s price. But despite those unpredictable challenges, it might be a smart idea to buy XRP with $1,000 from the more speculative side of your portfolio before its near-term headwinds dissipate.
Should you invest $1,000 in XRP right now?
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Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Ultimate Cryptocurrency to Buy With $1,000 was originally published by The Motley Fool