April 30, 2017

Beware: that home for sale could be hazardous to your health

Prospective buyer beware: that home for sale you’re eyeing could be a ticking time bomb – perhaps a termite headquarters, lead-based paint mecca, former meth lab site or environmentally polluted property. And you won’t know for sure unless you do your homework, according to the experts.

Learn how to sidestep a property with hidden health hazards by reading my newest piece for CTW Features, available here.

April 19, 2017

The robots may be coming for your job — are you ready?

Hear that metallic clatter off in the distance? It’s the sound of self-driving cars, package-delivering drones, ultra-smart voice-activated digital assistants, hospital robots, and countless other machines encroaching on the boundaries of your workplace. Yes, the bad news is that the age of automation has arrived. But the good news is that most jobs are probably safe from its influence for a long time, and such technology can present opportunities and rewards for workers willing to embrace or get ahead of it.

My latest article for AARP The Magazine covers the threat of technology encroachment in the workplace and how you can make yourself a more indispensable employee in the age of automation. Read it by clicking here.

April 11, 2017

Publishers perk up their ears for smart speakers

Publishers spent a lot of blood, sweat and tears getting their content up to speed on mobile over the past few years. But that’s a platform primarily geared to eyeballs and fingers.

Now, they’ve got to devote attention to the eardrum and vocal chords that can be heard loud and clear on smart speakers like Amazon’s Alexa-powered Echo and Google Home, featuring Google Assistant, say the experts. To do otherwise is to risk being drowned out by the sound waves of competitors and overlooked by consumers eager for immediate gratification audio.

Learn more about this tech topic by checking out my latest article for EContent Magazine, available here.

April 2, 2017

An aviary beyond the ordinary

They say the cure for feeling cooped up is to spread your wings and fly. But many pet stores are content to confine sales of bird cages—the most crucial avian commodity that bird owners purchase—to a limited supply and a small selection. That’s an opportunity missed, say the experts, who recommend expanding your offerings to cater to consumers increasingly seeking larger, higher-quality enclosures for their feathered friends.

My latest monthly pet bird trends and products column for Pet Age, which this time around focuses on bird cages, can be read here.