Connect with us

Technology

What Small Business Owners Should Know About SEO

Published

on

A SCORE mentor can help you craft a strategy for improving your business’s online presence.

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Online e-commerce sales are on the rise, increasing by 8 percent from 2023 to 2024, according to the U.S. Census. Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a key role in how easily customers can find businesses online, making it an important tool for small business owners in e-commerce. As America’s largest source of free, small business mentoring and resources, SCORE offers mentoring and educational resources for entrepreneurs looking to utilize SEO for the success of their business.

Why is SEO important?
If you own a business in 2025, you probably have a website dedicated to promoting your business and connecting with customers. “A website is a critical sales and marketing tool for just about every business,” explains SCORE mentor Dean Swanson. “It is a hub for product information, a conversion point for capturing leads, the holding place for marketing materials and company news, and many times serves as your potential customer’s first impression of your business. However, before any prospect can interact with your website, they first have to find your website.”

Do your research
To reach the right customers, you need to know what they’re looking for. Put yourself in the shoes of someone looking for your product or service. “Before you start optimizing your website, it’s essential to conduct keyword research to identify the terms and phrases your target audience is using to search for products or services like yours,” recommends SCORE mentor Adam Torkildson. “Once you have a list of relevant keywords, you can start incorporating them into your website’s content, including page titles, meta descriptions and header tags.”

Talk to the experts
Working with an experienced mentor can make a big difference for your business. SCORE client Michelle Nguyen, owner of Emmi’s Closet, took advantage of SCORE’s vast network of volunteers and received guidance from multiple mentors throughout her entrepreneurial journey. “When I needed help with technical questions such as SEO and website building, my mentor introduced me to another SCORE mentor, Kenneth Lo,” said Michelle. “Kenneth has been tremendously supportive and helpful. He also introduced me to another SCORE mentor to help with the financial side of my business.”

Resources from SCORE
In addition to mentoring, SCORE offers a free, online course about E-commerce Website Platforms, SEO, and Marketing for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. This course walks you through website platform options, key marketing techniques and the role of SEO in e-commerce.

SCORE recently hosted two webinars on SEO, both of which are now available on-demand at no cost on SCORE’s website. Start with Learn the SEO Basics and Boost Your Website Traffic, then for more information, check out The SEO Implementation Blueprint: Tools, Tactics & Techniques.

To learn more about SCORE, request a mentor or volunteer to be one, visit SCORE.org.

About SCORE
Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow or successfully exit a business. SCORE’s 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories.

Funded [in part] through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

CONTACT:
SCORE
202-968-6428
media@score.org

Visit SCORE’s media resources to connect with expert small business interview sources and news updates.

SOURCES
https://www.census.gov/retail/ecommerce.html

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/what-small-business-owners-should-know-about-seo-302398431.html

SOURCE SCORE

Continue Reading

Technology

AndX Global Unveils Manila One, a First-of-Its-Kind Tokenized Land Development With Global Access

Published

on

By

NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AndX Global today unveiled Manila One, a $100 million initiative that is the first to tokenize a large-scale, development-stage land project and open it to investors worldwide from day one.

Originated in the Philippines, structured through a U.S.-based investment framework and built for distribution to eligible investors globally, Manila One represents a new model for cross-border real estate investing. It combines a local asset, institutional structuring, global access and a path to liquidity.

Manila One applies tokenization where the most value is created, in the development of raw land, and opens it to investors around the world from the start.

“Tokenization without liquidity is simply digitized illiquidity,” said Viru Raparthi, CEO of AndX Global. “Manila One changes that model by giving global investors access at the development stage, while building toward real liquidity. This isn’t just about tokenizing real estate. It’s about creating a global market for real-world assets.”

Designed for global investors

Manila One is built to overcome the barriers that have kept private real estate closed to most investors: access, currency, minimums and exit.

Global access: open to eligible investors in more than 190 countries, subject to applicable lawUSD-denominated: priced and reported in U.S. dollarsLow minimum: tokens priced to ensure maximum participationDigital ownership: each token represents an economic interest in the development-stage project, with digital custody and blockchain-based recordkeepingBuilt for liquidity: designed for secondary trading on regulated AndX exchanges globally, so eligible holders can buy and sell their interests rather than stay locked into a multi-year private investment

Behind the offering is an end-to-end model that AndX intends to apply to other asset classes. It runs from origination through U.S. structuring, digital issuance, global distribution and custody to secondary trading. AndX Global provides the technology, tokenization, exchange, custody, payments and distribution infrastructure.

“The next generation of capital markets won’t be defined by geography,” Raparthi said. “It will be defined by access.”

The asset: 54 hectares, 5 km from Bonifacio Global City

The project centers on about 54 hectares of waterfront land roughly 5 kilometers from Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Metro Manila’s leading business district. Proceeds will fund horizontal development, including roads, utilities, drainage and other core infrastructure, to prepare the site for future residential, commercial and mixed-use construction. A later phase is planned to include affordable housing.

Manila One is sponsored by Jack Rodriguez, a Filipino entrepreneur and President of ARC Pacific Development, Inc., whose family story spans generations and two countries. His ancestry traces to passengers associated with the Mayflower and America’s earliest Pilgrim settlers, while his own roots remain deeply connected to the Philippines. Rodriguez sees the project as a bridge between the United States and the Philippines.

“Major development opportunities in the Philippines have mostly been available to a small circle of institutions, developers and wealthy families,” said Rodriguez. “Manila One opens that up, starting with Filipinos around the world and extending to investors everywhere who want a stake in transforming a major Philippine asset.”

The project is advised by Romel C. Cañete, widely regarded as one of the early visionaries behind Manhattan’s Hudson Yards transformation. Cañete evaluated developer bids for more than 40 million square feet of mixed-use development over the West Side rail yards — work that helped shape what became one of the most successful and consequential urban redevelopment projects in modern New York City.

“On Hudson Yards, the first question was whether the infrastructure could carry the vision,” said Cañete. “Manila One starts in the same place. What’s different is who gets in on the ground floor. It’s not just a handful of institutions anymore, but investors around the world.”

Offering at a glance

Offering size: $100 millionUnderlying asset: about 54 hectares of waterfront land near BGC, Metro ManilaIndicated land value: more than $200 million, per Cuervo Valuers & Advisory, Inc. (appraisal dated February 3, 2026)Term: three yearsPreferred return: 8% per year, simple and non-compounding (24% over the three-year term)Additional upside: 100% return on investment tied to appreciation of the underlying land, subject to offering termsEligible investors: retail and institutional, in more than 190 countriesOffering documents and eligibility: andx.ai/m1

About Manila One

Manila One is a tokenized real estate offering tied to the horizontal development of about 54 hectares of waterfront land near Bonifacio Global City in Metro Manila. ARC Pacific Development, Inc. is the sponsor, and AndX Global provides the tokenization and distribution infrastructure. Learn more at andx.ai/m1. 

About AndX Global

AndX Global is a financial technology company expanding global access to financial markets and real-world assets. Its infrastructure spans licensed digital-asset trading, payments, tokenization, custody and liquidity. Its mission is to let investors trade any asset, anywhere, anytime. Learn more at andx.ai. 

Important disclosure

This communication is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security or investment product. Any offering will be made only under applicable securities laws and through definitive offering documents containing material information about the investment, its risks and its terms. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. The preferred return is not guaranteed. Statements about liquidity, secondary trading, returns, appreciation or future value are forward-looking and not guaranteed. Secondary trading, if available, will be subject to securities laws, regulatory approvals, transfer restrictions and the availability of an appropriate venue. Securities-related activities in the United States, where applicable, will be conducted through appropriately registered entities.

Media contacts

United States

Roxanne Rittberg

roxanne@andx.ai

+1 (561) 544-7172

Philippines

Mikel Cañete

mikel@andx.ai 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/andx-global-unveils-manila-one-a-first-of-its-kind-tokenized-land-development-with-global-access-302924313.html

SOURCE Andx Global

Continue Reading

Technology

Veridian Credit Union adds Allstate Identity Protection to free credit monitoring tool

Published

on

By

New benefit gives members access to professional identity restoration support and monitoring tools

WATERLOO, Iowa, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Veridian Credit Union members now have complimentary access to Allstate Identity Protection through Credit Central, Veridian’s free credit monitoring tool within online banking.

The added support comes as identity theft is making a growing financial impact on U.S. consumers. Identity theft losses reached an all-time high of $27.3 billion in 2025, according to the 2026 Identity Fraud Study from Javelin Strategy & Research.

Veridian members who are enrolled in Credit Central and believe they are experiencing identity theft can now use identity fraud finder tools and work with a professional restoration specialist on monitoring high-risk transactions, dark web exposure and more. Monitoring for additional fraud continues for at least three months after a restoration case is resolved.

“Providing identity restoration support through a tool members already have access to is another way we can help them protect their financial lives and move forward with confidence,” said Mallory Paeper, Veridian’s manager of fraud and disputes. “Your financial well-being includes more than knowing your credit score. It also means having support when your personal information is compromised.”

The identity protection benefit expands the resources already available to Veridian members through Credit Central, Veridian’s free credit monitoring tool within online banking. Credit Central gives members access to their credit score and credit report, credit monitoring alerts and personalized tools designed to help them better understand and manage their credit. Credit Central is available to Veridian members within online banking at no cost, giving members easier access to credit information and identity protection as part of their everyday banking experience.

About Veridian Credit Union
Veridian Credit Union, founded in 1934 in Waterloo, Iowa, is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by the people who use its products and services – its members. Nationally recognized among the top credit unions in the U.S. for returning value, Veridian offers a full range of business and consumer financial services with 32 branches across Iowa, eastern Nebraska and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. For details, visit veridiancu.org or call (800) 235-3228.

About Allstate Identity Protection
Allstate has been protecting what matters most for 90 years. Allstate Identity Protection provides identity restoration services and related support for users who experience identity fraud.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veridian-credit-union-adds-allstate-identity-protection-to-free-credit-monitoring-tool-302924334.html

SOURCE Veridian Credit Union

Continue Reading

Technology

SAJ Electric Honoured with EUPD Top Innovation Award at All-Energy

Published

on

By

The EK70 HS5 Series and EK90 HS5 Series were recognised in the Storage category

MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SAJ Electric has received the EUPD Research Top Innovation Australia 2026 award in the Storage category for its EK70 HS5 Series and EK90 HS5 Series all-in-one home energy storage systems. The award was presented on SAJ Electric’s stand at All-Energy Australia 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

EUPD Research recognises products for technology advancement, innovation uniqueness, environmental impact, market disruption and practical applicability.

The EK70 HS5 and EK90 HS5 combine a hybrid inverter, LFP battery storage and backup in one modular system. Blind-mate connectors and a wireless meter cut installation cabling, and three-step app commissioning speeds setup. A built-in 63A bypass delivers whole-home backup without a separate backup box, switching in 10 ms or less. An independent DC/DC battery optimiser supports flexible expansion, and the elekeeper 5.0 platform coordinates solar, storage, EV charging and household loads. Both are available in single-phase and three-phase.

The award headlined two busy days for SAJ Electric across Stand M143 and a dedicated Strongman booth at E01. SAJ Electric ran live product demonstrations, partner sessions with its three national distributors, and a public strength challenge against Bradman Houston, Australia’s Open-weight Strongest Man of 2026. Bradman’s lifts include a 380 kg deadlift, 340 kg squat and 180 kg overhead press.

Highlights

CEC certification: DEKRA and CCS presented Clean Energy Council certificates for the EK70 HS5 and EK90 HS5 on stand, making them the first products approved under Australia’s new SA TS 5398 battery safety standard.CEO roundtable: SAJ Electric Chairman and CEO Samil Ouyang and Smart Energy Council CEO David McElrea discussed the direction of Australia’s home battery market and how manufacturers can better support installers.Beat the Strongest Man: Booth E01 drew some of the biggest crowds of the show as visitors stepped up to the high striker against Bradman. Anyone who out-hit him took home a pair of Shokz headphones.Nine live demos: SAJ Electric’s technical team ran scheduled sessions across both days on residential storage, the elekeeper energy management platform, and commercial and industrial solutions.Distributors on board: One Stop Warehouse, Supply Partners and Tradezone showcased SAJ Electric products on their own stands, with SAJ Electric technical staff at each throughout.Media on stand: SAJ Electric hosted briefings, interviews and content capture with RenewEconomy, pv magazine, EcoGeneration, SunWiz, Solar Cutters, OpenSolar, Your Energy Media, Techmanpat and the Smart Energy Council, plus a booth tour and interview with Glenn Morris, founder of Smart Energy Lab, who recently installed and tested the EK70 HS5 on his YouTube channel.

The Strongman activation built on SAJ Electric’s ongoing work with Bradman, who earlier this year fronted an SAJ Electric video series with the Sydney Solar & Electrical crew on stretching, lifting technique and health tips for installers who move heavy batteries and panels every day.

SAJ Electric thanks every installer, partner and visitor who came by Stand M143 and the Strongman booth.

About SAJ Electric

Guangzhou Sanjing Electric Co., Ltd. (SAJ Electric) is a global manufacturer of solar inverters, energy storage systems and smart energy management solutions. In Australia, SAJ Electric products are available through One Stop Warehouse, Supply Partners and Tradezone. Learn more at au.saj-electric.com.

Media contact

Bella He
APAC & MENA Regional Head of Marketing
Guangzhou Sanjing Electric Co., Ltd.
No.9 Lizhishan Road, Guangzhou Science City, Guangdong, P.R. China 510663
Mobile: +86 188 2508 2693
www.saj-electric.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/saj-electric-honoured-with-eupd-top-innovation-award-at-all-energy-302924323.html

SOURCE SAJ

Continue Reading

Trending