My Two Cents
Opinions at the Intersection of Business and Technology
Latest Posts
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X Tests $1 Annual Fee to Tweet to Once Again Stop the Bots
The company formerly known as Twitter says it will begin charging new users in the Phillippines and New Zealand the equivalent of $1 per year in order to “perform certain actions on the web version of the platform” (emphasis mine). X claims its so-called “Not A Bot” subscription program could help curb bots and spammers…
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Unleashing Creativity: Zealous Takes on Creators’ Tasks, Unburdens Time
Launching “The Created Economy” podcast in 2022 was the first time I considered myself a real creator. I knew it would be a long and arduous process, not only to get the show off the ground but also to keep it going. Unfortunately the adage “if you build it, they will come” doesn’t hold water.…
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Instagram Launches Threads: First Impressions of the Twitter Rival
I found myself excited about a product launch this week, admittedly the first in some time. But it wasn’t something that would fundamentally change the world. Honestly, there was nothing special about what it does — it’s just another social media app. That’s right: I became worked up about an application called Threads that would…
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How AI Search Might Impact Your SEO
Digital marketers dedicated years to optimizing websites, creating content tailored to keyword phrases in attempts to outperform search engine algorithms. However, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in Microsoft Bing and Google may have completely transformed the landscape of search engine optimization (SEO), potentially playing a significant role in affecting site traffic. Making Search Work…
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Google Photos’ New AI Editing Tool Could Pose Threat to Adobe
Updates made to Google Photos consistently astound me. I like the app’s cloud backup and easy search for people and locations. And though, while other apps offer similar features, Google’s use of artificial intelligence helps it stand out. A successor to Google+ and Picasa, Google Photos is the company’s first AI-native apps. At one point,…
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LinkedIn at 20: Adapting to Changing Networking Trends
In 2013, I documented a major milestone: LinkedIn’s 10-year anniversary. At the time, I wrote that the company has achieved a status most startups dream about, becoming a key player in bringing our professional lives online. Indeed, after two decades, LinkedIn has moved beyond being analogous to being the MySpace or Facebook of our professional…
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Augie, the AI-Powered Video Creation App, Now In Public Beta
There’s a new entrant in the social video creation space and it’s betting its simplistic workflow and use of artificial intelligence will win you over. The brainchild of Aug X Labs, Augie aims to turn your script, narration or your webcam recording into a custom video. It’s now available in a public beta. The Shift…
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Instagram’s Latest Move Fails To Sound Death Knell For Linktree And Other ‘Link In Bio’ Startups
You can now add up to five links to your Instagram profile, something Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg remarked was “probably one of the most requested features we’ve had.” But while creators celebrated the news, headlines were being published questioning the future viability of the so-called “link in bio” startups, namely Linktree. Though it’s understandable…
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LinkedIn’s Verification Take Is Big on Credibility Over Features
What does it mean to have a verified profile? For many, it’s been viewed as a status symbol, something the majority of users don’t have, and grants a measure of legitimacy and authenticity. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram have long been the biggest social media companies to offer these fabled “blue checkmarks,” but not anymore. There’s…
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Welcome to the New TheLetterTwo.com
Five years ago, I wrote a similar post to what you’re about to read regarding what you’ll see on thelettertwo.com. When I started writing more than 15 years ago, my blog was separate from my website. It was initially hosted on Blogger and rather than residing on thelettertwo.com, I opted for the subdomain blog.thelettertwo.com. In…