DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Ron DeSantis allies on Disney oversight board threaten company with taxes, rate hikes and affordable housing
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“It really is shameful what Disney tried to do,” board chairman Martin Garcia said. However, Disney in February reached agreements with the outgoing board that seemed to render the body powerless to control the entertainment giant. Garcia said that the agreements went unmentioned by a representative for Disney when the two sides met soon after DeSantis appointed the new board. “Our board truly wished to work with Disney,” Garcia said. The board plans to vote at its April 26 meeting to void the previous agreements reached with Disney.

☆ Debt ceiling drama is back and it's coming for markets. Here's what to know as a deadline looms.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Max Adams | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

If the trend returns to the upside, it'll buck many of the gloomiest predictions of a crushing earnings recession and a painful stock market sell-off — at least for now. Last week, markets started showing early signs that investors are stressed about a possible US default as the deadline looms without an agreement in sight. Join us in demanding a reasonable negotiation, a responsible debt ceiling, an agreement that brings spending under control" McCarthy said. Here are the latest market moves. Here's why Morgan Stanley's Mike Wilson doesn't believe in the latest stock market rally.

☆ I make 6-figures a month in revenue making games on Roblox. Here's how I started earning thousands in my first year.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Madsen creates new games on Roblox and updates his previous games to keep up a revenue stream. I remember when I made my first $2 from a Roblox game I created in 2017. Now, I've been generating six figures a month in revenue from Roblox experiences I've created or been a part of creating since 2021. I also create Roblox experiences outside of Splitting Point with friends. The reason is that even if it's a beautifully designed game, it isn't a Roblox game.

☆ What the loss of Samsung search engine business could mean for Alphabet's stock
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A weekend report from The New York Times said Samsung is thinking of switching its default search engine to Microsoft's Bing. Samsung represents roughly 27% of the smartphone market and has a 60% share of Android phones, according to Barclays. Barclays estimates that Samsung represents about $20 billion of Google's gross revenue and $7.3 billion of operating income. If the cellphone maker were to move away from the search engine, Google may have to recapture 70% of lost queries organically to recoup the lost operating income, the firm found. He thinks Google will remain the search engine heavyweight and successfully integrate Bard to rival Bing's use of ChatGPT.

☆ Facebook plans to expand its revenue-sharing program as it tries to cozy up to content creators — and avoid falling behind YouTube, TikTok, and others
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

While creators and Instagram often go hand-in-hand, Meta wants to make one thing clear: Facebook is not dead. In particular, Facebook has been showcasing its creator ad-revenue-share model, called Ads on Facebook reels. "Especially with everything recently between YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, Facebook never gets mentioned in those same conversations when we talk about creators and what platforms they're choosing between." Meta also declined to share the eligibility requirements for Facebook's reels ads program — except that it is invite-only. A robust ad-revenue-share program for reels across Instagram and Facebook, in theory, could be a win-win for both Meta and creators.

☆ Startup aims to help climate companies unlock billions in Inflation Reduction Act tax credits
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

There's a problem with tax credits, though. A September report from Credit Suisse estimates approximately $500 billion of tax credits will be monetized over the next decade. "There are a few institutional players in the market that purchase tax credits at discount to market value in exchange for buying at volume. Sellers can list their tax credits on option, get bids on those credits, and compare offers. Tax credits have a wide base of support politically because a lot of very diverse stakeholders benefit from them.

☆ How smaller Instagram accounts secure brand deals and make money
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Smaller accounts on Instagram can still make money as influencers. Smaller creators, usually categorized as "nano" influencers with fewer than 10,000 followers, are making money as content creators like their larger counterparts with brand deals, user-generated content, and affiliate marketing. With around 3,000 Instagram followers, Kim is building a business as a travel and fashion influencer by leveraging her small audience. While influencers can pitch brands directly, some companies are already on the lookout for smaller creators to work with. Insider is compiling our reporting on how smaller creators are getting themselves sponsored on Instagram, their strategies, and how much money they are making.

☆ Warner Bros Discovery unveils revamped 'Max' in push for streaming growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Warner Bros Discovery eliminated "HBO" from the name of the streaming service, which for some viewers connotes bespoke series but repels others. He repudiated his predecessor's COVID-19 era strategy of releasing new movies simultaneously in theaters and in the home, via HBO Max. Instead, Warner Bros films would enjoy a traditional theatrical release and reap box office proceeds before becoming available on the streaming service. It licensed some of these shows to other streaming services, as Warner Bros Discovery looked for new ways to monetize its film and television libraries. Like other media companies, Warner Bros Discovery has yet to turn a profit on its HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming services, though the company has reduced losses from them.

☆ Analysts worry about Microsoft's cloud but really like Humana. Here's our take on both Club stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

UBS analysts are warning about additional weakness in Microsoft 's (MSFT) key cloud computing, while Morgan Stanley issued a rosy multiyear outlook on Humana (HUM). Here's a look at both notes and how we feel about the stocks, which are both in the Club's portfolio. MSFT 1Y mountain Microsoft's stock performance over the past 12 months. Ahead of all that, UBS lowered its own Azuze revenue growth estimates for Microsoft's fourth-quarter and upcoming fiscal year 2024. The news: Club holding Humana is the "strongest earnings growth story" in the managed care industry, Morgan Stanley equity analysts told clients in a note Tuesday.

☆ I make $15,000 in ad revenue a month through podcasts. Here’s how I started my network on Instagram.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Vartika Puranik | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Gillian Tietz is the founder of Sober Powered Media and the host of the "Sober Powered" podcast. The seven shows in her network bring in about $15,000 in ad revenue and 400,000 downloads a month. I named it the "Sober Powered" podcast, created an Instagram account, and started working on it every day. I resigned from my full-time job in June and officially launched Sober Powered Media, a podcast network that includes my show. I now monetize other podcasts through my network in exchange for 20% of the ad revenue, and I have seven podcasts in my network.

☆ Morgan Stanley says this Latin American e-commerce and payments company is a top pick that could surge nearly 40%
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Investors should consider buying shares of MercadoLibre , according to Morgan Stanley. Analyst Andrew Ruben reiterated an overweight rating on MercadoLibre and named it a top pick, saying the Latin American e-commerce and payments company has "multiple sources for earnings upside." "With new EBIT-level builds for eight MELI business lines, we see a durable base of profitable growth drivers," Ruben wrote Thursday. MELI 1D mountain MercadoLibre shares 1-day The analyst's $1,770 price target implies roughly 40% upside from Thursday's closing price of $1,266.80. MercadoLibre shares are 49% higher in 2023, though that follows two dismal years.

☆ Elon Musk’s Move to Monetize Twitter’s Blue Check Mark Riles Celebrities
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Alexa Corse | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Twitter Inc.’s plan to remove legacy blue check marks for verified accounts heralds an end to a longtime social-media status symbol and is prompting complaints from some of the platform’s celebrity contributors concerned about potential impersonation. The departing system, in which Twitter verified notable accounts to confirm their authenticity by adding a blue check mark next to the user’s name, will give way starting April 1 to one in which users must purchase a subscription to be verified, the company has said. Twitter, which previously didn’t charge for verification, is only providing it now to those who pay $8 to $11 for a monthly subscription, depending on whether it is paid via mobile or web browser.

☆ Blogs are a low-lift but high-reward tool for starting your own business. Two founders share tips for how to use blogs to stand out and prove credibility.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Alexandra York | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

They share best practices for search-engine optimization and choosing the right blog platform. "The blog is the thing that supports your mission, that continues to prove your credibility and value to people," Dunlap said. Dunlap and Curtis shared their tips for launching a blog, including leveraging search-engine optimization and choosing the right platform. Dunlap said SEO should play into every aspect of a blog post, including the browser title, post title, URL, blog copy, and image captions. "If a brand is paying me for a social-media post, I offer a sponsored blog post for an extra amount," she said.

☆ How U.S. Regulators Are Choking Crypto
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Katie Haun | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Some financial regulators appear to have seized on a series of high-profile meltdowns to go around Congress and try to freeze an entire industry out of banking services. I spent more than a decade as a federal prosecutor on some of the worst threats our country faces—organized crime, the opioid epidemic, political corruption and terrorism. In my final years at the Justice Department, I shifted to cases involving emerging technology, including the then-nascent crypto category, from the Mt. Public blockchains, the foundational technology of the ecosystem, are an important set of tools that reflect breakthroughs in cryptography and distributed computing. In addition to early financial-use cases, this sector provides new ways to develop, monetize and govern all kinds of software.

☆ Spotify and creator payment startup Creative Juice are partnering on video podcasts as the space heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Spotify has partnered with payment startup Creative Juice to grow its video podcasting program. Audio leader Spotify has been delving into the space, and is now partnering with payment startup Creative Juice to bring creators to its platform to make video podcasts. On March 28, select Creative Juice influencers will have access to a "white glove service" through the podcast program. They also used their funding from Creative Juice to build out a production team and invest in design and merchandise. On Spotify, podcast creators get paid through ads or fan-supported subscriptions or donations.

Donziger's lawyers argued that this appointment violated separation-of-powers principles set out in the Constitution delineating the authority of the three branches of the U.S. government. In 2011, an Ecuadorian court entered an $18 billion judgment that was later reduced to $9.5 billion against Chevron for contamination resulting from oil production. In 2014, Kaplan concluded in that case that the Ecuadorian judgment against Chevron in Ecuador was obtained fraudulently through a corrupt process, rendering it unenforceable in the United States. When Chevron suspected Donziger was violating a related ban on trying to monetize or profit from the judgment, Kaplan ordered him to turn over electronic devices and email accounts for examination. After federal prosecutors in Manhattan declined to take the case, Kaplan in an unusual move tapped a private lawyer, Rita Glavin, to lead the prosecution of Donziger.

☆ Goldman Sachs says these stocks are a safe place to hide even in this uncertain market
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"A reopening in China also serves as a catalyst for accelerating revenue growth and upside in IRM's ITRenew business," he wrote. "We believe IRM's pricing power and expanding growth portfolio will drive attractive organic revenue growth," he added. ... Reopening in China also serves as a catalyst for accelerating revenue growth & upside in IRM's ITRenew business. ... IRM's revenue mgmt strategy is translating into healthy storage pricing trends. ... We believe IRM's pricing power and expanding growth portfolio will drive attractive organic revenue growth."

☆ Inclusive Capital's Ubben named to Vistry board as homebuilder looks to leverage recent acquisition
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

As a pioneering activist ESG investor (AESG), Inclusive seeks long-term shareholder value through active partnership with companies whose core businesses contribute solutions to this pursuit. Their primary focus is on environmental and social value creation, which leads to shareholder value creation. They build communities that are mixed tenure, placing affordable housing among open market homes, retail stores, etc. This model has the benefits of a secular shift to affordable housing and is capex light since they do not have to acquire the land. But, in this case the community benefits align so perfectly with the company growth prospects – topline company growth means more affordable housing.

☆ Leaked documents show how Snapchat's lucrative Snap Stars program pays influencers and best practices the company shares with creators
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Creators who are part of the Snap Stars program are eligible for the ad-revenue-share beta. When asked about the ad program's eligibility criteria by Insider, Snap declined to comment. Meanwhile, Snap Stars who aren't in the beta program are posting more on the platform in the hopes they'll be selected for this financially lucrative opportunity. "I was really excited because being a Snap Star really helps with your growth," he said. A document for creators shows Snap's best practices for postingSnap has sent some Snap Stars guidelines with best practices for posting.

☆ Where TikTok users may go if the app gets banned
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —On the eve of a high-profile TikTok hearing this week, the company shared that it now has more than 150 million US monthly active users. “This uncertainty could push some TikTok content creators to focus more on, and possibly begin, pushing their audiences to other social network platforms,” Mogharabi said. Snap’s stock rose in the days leading up to TikTok’s appearance before Congress amid renewed talks among federal officials of a TikTok ban. Alex Brandon/APIf that happens, Lian Jye Su, an analyst with ABI Search, believes users will follow their favorite TikTok influencers and content creators wherever they go. For now, talk of a TikTok ban may still be premature.

☆ How to get a boost on Instagram? Post 6 stories a day and use its in-app tools, says an influencer who meets regularly with the company. Here's her other advice.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Nhari Djan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Some of her tips include posting six Instagram stories a day and posting to the grid once a day. Instagram is pushing content made using its own in-app tools and features, according to a creator who got a rundown from the company. Marietta said the Instagram partner manager she spoke with explained that Instagram is working on its editing tools. Instagram also wants creators to use its other in-app features, including its trending audio instead of "outside music," per Marietta. While nine hashtags on a post used to be ideal, Instagram now suggests three to five hashtags, Marietta said.

Lisa Andrea launched a financial blog in 2021 and consistently books $8,000 in monthly revenue. Andrea outlines 9 of the easiest ways to earn passive income, including resale and blogging. She took her experience building passive income streams and teaching herself the fundamentals of financial literacy to launch the financial-advice blog The Financial Cookbook in February 2021. Andrea shared her own financial strategy, including the nine methods of passive income she encourages everyone to try. Julia CheskyAndrea said companies typically contact her about brand partnerships, but she encourages other entrepreneurs to be more proactive when looking for passive income avenues.

☆ Reliance Jio's new 5G plans may impact Bharti Airtel's key metrics- JP Morgan
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BENGALURU, March 23 (Reuters) - The launch of cheaper postpaid plans with unlimited 5G by Reliance's Jio has put rival Bharti Airtel (BRTI.NS) on the back foot in the Indian market and may delay recovery in its key profit metric, JP Morgan analysts said on Thursday. Jio, the telecoms unit of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries (RELI.NS), launched new postpaid plans last week, starting from 399 rupees ($4.85) that included over-the-top (OTT) packages, forcing Bharti Airtel to roll out similar plans. Analysts kept their "under weight" rating on Bharti Airtel, saying that ARPU expansion for Bharti was at risk and could even reduce over 2024-25 as 5G price wars take place. Both, Jio and Bharti Airtel have been rolling out 5G services across the country. ($1 = 82.2100 Indian rupees)Reporting by Nallur Sethuraman in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'SilvaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Tencent's online ad revenue grows for the first time in more than a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Overall revenue for the quarter ended Dec. 31 came in at 144.95 billion yuan ($21.07 billion), higher than the 143.89 billion yuan estimated by FactSet. Average monthly users of WeChat in China and overseas rose by 3.5% from a year ago 1.31 billion accounts in the fourth quarter. Ad spendingIn-feed ads for video accounts generated more than 1 billion yuan in revenue in the fourth quarter, Tencent said. Revenue sourcesThe largest revenue segment, which includes the giant gaming business, fell by 2% to 70.4 billion yuan in the fourth quarter, in line with FactSet estimates for 70.2 billion yuan. Tencent's second-largest revenue source, financial technology and business services revenue fell by 1% to 47.2 billion yuan, below FactSet estimates for 49.49 billion yuan.

Popular passive income ideas include online courses, as well as renting out property, tools, and equipment to others. Even though the goal is passive income, there may be a bit of active work required at the start. However, many passive income ideas may require a significant upfront investment of time and labor to generate profits later. See Insider's picks for the best budgeting apps >>With the hundreds of possible passive income streams available, which ones are the best for 2023? Bonds and bond fundsInvesting with bonds or bond funds can be another way of generating passive income.

Search resuls for: "monetize"

25 mentions found