(This column originally appeared in Forbes)
Here are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
1 — Meta keeps booting small business owners for being hacked on Facebook.
Sophisticated hacks are putting small business owners in a difficult position ahead of the holiday shopping season. According to recent reports, hackers have been gaining access to Meta accounts, linking their account to the original business account, then taking over the account and posting content against Meta’s policy, resulting in the business accounts being disabled. (Source: ARS Technica)
Why this is important for your business:
The best defense on this is to change your passwords frequently and setup more security options to access your Facebook page. Otherwise, your page could be disabled at a very critical time of year. A Meta spokesperson told Ars that the best way to notify Meta of issues with hacked accounts is via facebook.com/hacked and instagram.com/hacked.
2 — Shopify is testing a new universal search feature.
Shopify is testing out a “Search for anything” function that lets users find merchants who match the searched word, items sold by Shopify merchants, or those that were previously purchased. The test will initially roll out to a handful of users although there’s no indication how long the test will last, who will be picked, and whether or not it’s something that will eventually be widely released. (Source: Search Engine Land)
Why this is important for your business:
If you’re selling on Shopify this is a test that you should keep an eye on. Universal search could, if implemented the right way, significantly change the way visitors find your products and may cause you to re-visit your keywords and analytics. If setup the right way it could contribute a big boost to your sales.
3 — Microsoft Teams is introducing a new Sign Language Feature and could be about to solve one of your biggest business problems.
Microsoft Teams is introducing several new features to improve its user experience. First, the addition of Sign Language View will make it easier for users to use sign language during meetings. The new feature enables you to choose up to two participant videos to prioritize so they consistently stay in view during a meeting. Teams users will also see improvements when it comes to scheduling and managing meetings, calls, and more with new scheduling features expected to roll out in February. (Source: Tech Radar)
Why this is important for your business:
Microsoft Teams has come very far since its inception just a few years ago and Microsoft — smartly realizing its usefulness and popularity among workers — is stepping up its offerings. I’m sure there are plenty of functions in Teams — and Office 365 — that you’re not using, yet paying for. So consider hiring a consultant this year to get some training.
4 — This is how TikTok is saving some small businesses thousands on marketing.
Erika Wheless this week does a great job explaining how TikTok is saving many small businesses thousands of dollars on marketing this holiday season with owners even pulling Instagram and Facebook spend in favor of the video app. (Source: Ad Age)
Why this is important for your business:
Wheless says that TikTok’s advantages for small businesses are due to the platform’s ability to increase organic reach and boost holiday sales. And through its new “Small Wins” initiative, the platform is also educating business owners on how to use the platform to grow their business.
5 — Cobee has raised $41 million for an employee benefits ‘superapp.’
Madrid-based startup and employee benefits platform Cobee recently raised $41 million in funding. The funding will be used to support the startup’s expansion to other Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries. (Source: Tech Crunch)
Why this is important for your business:
The employee benefits platform makes accessing and organizing benefits much easier for both employers and employees through its payroll integration and streamlined app where employees can browse and select plans.
