Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (HR 9747) – This continuing resolution was introduced on Sept. 22 as a “clean” extenuation of the federal budget to fund the government until Dec. 20. Up until this point, a handful of Republicans had attached unrelated bills pertaining to November election restrictions, which they did not have the votes to pass in the House and would never have passed in the Senate. After several weeks of threatening to shut down the government by not passing a continuing appropriations bill, the House Speaker proposed this “last-minute” tied over with the minimum appropriations necessary to keep the government up and running. While it still does not solidify the federal budget for the 2025 fiscal year (Sept. 29, 2024, through Sept. 27, 2025), this bill is expected to pass in the House on Sept. 25 and to clear the Senate and be signed by the president by Sept. 29.
Preventing the Financing of Illegal Synthetic Drugs Act (HR 1076) – Introduced by Rep. Mónica De La Cruz (R-TX) on Feb. 17, 2023, this bill directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on illegal funding sources related to the trafficking of synthetic drugs such fentanyl and methamphetamine. The bill passed in the House on May 22, 2023, in the Senate on July 23, 2024, and was signed into law by the president on Sept. 13.
Launch Communications Act (S 1648) – This act will update ground-to-space rocket communications going forward. Presently, commercial missions are required to use the government-owned spectrum to communicate during launches, including special temporary authority for private companies. This bill permits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to facilitate seamless access to broadband spectrum frequencies for commercial space launches and re-entries. The bill, which was introduced on May 17, 2023, by Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO), passed unanimously in the Senate on Oct. 21, 2023, and in the House on Sept. 17. It is currently awaiting signature by the president for enactment.
FUTURE Networks Act (HR 1513) – The acronym stands for Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced Networks Act. Introduced by Doris Matsui (D-CA) on March 9, 2023, this act would instruct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a 6G Task Force comprised of private, academic and government experts to monitor the status of sixth-generation wireless technology, including its possible uses. The House passed the bill on Sept. 18, and the bill now rests with the Senate.
Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act (HR 7909) – This bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make non-U.S. nationals (aliens) convicted of or having admitted to committing sex offenses or domestic violence (including conspiracy to commit a sex offense) be ineligible for country admission and deportable. Introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), the bill passed in the House on Sept. 18 and currently lies in the Senate.
Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force Act (S 1871) – Introduced by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) on June 8, 2023, this bill would enable coordination among state, local, tribal and territorial jurisdictions with the federal government to mitigate national security risks related to the current U.S. critical mineral supply chains. Specifically, the intent is to make the United States less reliant on China and other countries for critical minerals and rare earth metals. Provisions of the bill allow for development, mining and strengthening of our domestic workforce and to improve partnerships with allied countries for dependable mineral supply chains. The bill passed in the Senate on Sept. 8 and is currently with the House.
SMART Leasing Act (S 211) – Introduced on Feb. 1, 2023, by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), this bill would launch a program to lease underutilized properties owned by the federal government. The net funding would then be used for capital projects and to help offset the national deficit. The act passed in the Senate on Aug. 1 and is currently under consideration in the House.
Alan F Burke CPA
Keeping the Government Open, Stopping the Flow of Synthetic Drugs, and Improving Wireless Communications on Land and in Space
October 1, 2024 · Blog, Congress at Work
⏱ 4 min read
Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (HR 9747) – This continuing resolution was introduced on Sept. 22 as a “clean” extenuation of the federal budget to fund the government until Dec. 20. Up until this point, a handful of Republicans had attached unrelated bills pertaining to November election restrictions, which they did not have the votes to pass in the House and would never have passed in the Senate. After several weeks of threatening to shut down the government by not passing a continuing appropriations bill, the House Speaker proposed this “last-minute” tied over with the minimum appropriations necessary to keep the government up and running. While it still does not solidify the federal budget for the 2025 fiscal year (Sept. 29, 2024, through Sept. 27, 2025), this bill is expected to pass in the House on Sept. 25 and to clear the Senate and be signed by the president by Sept. 29.
Preventing the Financing of Illegal Synthetic Drugs Act (HR 1076) – Introduced by Rep. Mónica De La Cruz (R-TX) on Feb. 17, 2023, this bill directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on illegal funding sources related to the trafficking of synthetic drugs such fentanyl and methamphetamine. The bill passed in the House on May 22, 2023, in the Senate on July 23, 2024, and was signed into law by the president on Sept. 13.
Launch Communications Act (S 1648) – This act will update ground-to-space rocket communications going forward. Presently, commercial missions are required to use the government-owned spectrum to communicate during launches, including special temporary authority for private companies. This bill permits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to facilitate seamless access to broadband spectrum frequencies for commercial space launches and re-entries. The bill, which was introduced on May 17, 2023, by Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO), passed unanimously in the Senate on Oct. 21, 2023, and in the House on Sept. 17. It is currently awaiting signature by the president for enactment.
FUTURE Networks Act (HR 1513) – The acronym stands for Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced Networks Act. Introduced by Doris Matsui (D-CA) on March 9, 2023, this act would instruct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a 6G Task Force comprised of private, academic and government experts to monitor the status of sixth-generation wireless technology, including its possible uses. The House passed the bill on Sept. 18, and the bill now rests with the Senate.
Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act (HR 7909) – This bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make non-U.S. nationals (aliens) convicted of or having admitted to committing sex offenses or domestic violence (including conspiracy to commit a sex offense) be ineligible for country admission and deportable. Introduced by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), the bill passed in the House on Sept. 18 and currently lies in the Senate.
Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force Act (S 1871) – Introduced by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) on June 8, 2023, this bill would enable coordination among state, local, tribal and territorial jurisdictions with the federal government to mitigate national security risks related to the current U.S. critical mineral supply chains. Specifically, the intent is to make the United States less reliant on China and other countries for critical minerals and rare earth metals. Provisions of the bill allow for development, mining and strengthening of our domestic workforce and to improve partnerships with allied countries for dependable mineral supply chains. The bill passed in the Senate on Sept. 8 and is currently with the House.
SMART Leasing Act (S 211) – Introduced on Feb. 1, 2023, by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), this bill would launch a program to lease underutilized properties owned by the federal government. The net funding would then be used for capital projects and to help offset the national deficit. The act passed in the Senate on Aug. 1 and is currently under consideration in the House.
Disclaimer
These articles are intended to provide general resources for the tax and accounting needs of small businesses and individuals. Service2Client LLC is the author, but is not engaged in rendering specific legal, accounting, financial or professional advice. Service2Client LLC makes no representation that the recommendations of Service2Client LLC will achieve any result. The NSAD has not reviewed any of the Service2Client LLC content. Readers are encouraged to contact a professional regarding the topics in these articles. The images linked to these articles are protected by copyright and should not be copied for any reason.
Social media has become a powerful tool for helping businesses reach their prospects and customers. By using social media, a business can connect with its audience, build brand awareness, and drive sales. However, many struggle to convert social media engagement – likes, shares, comments, and followers – into tangible business opportunities. Transforming these engagements into actionable leads and sales is where the real power of social media lies. To successfully unlock this potential, businesses must effectively use social media analytics.
Understanding Social Media Analytics
Social media analytics involves gathering and analyzing data from social media platforms to help make informed business decisions. This data includes metrics such as engagement rates, reach, impressions, follower growth, and sentiment analysis, among others. By understanding what this data signifies, businesses can gain valuable insights into the behavior, preferences, and needs of their audience. These insights are then used to tailor marketing strategies, create more relevant content, and improve customer interactions.
The Shift from Vanity Metrics to Meaningful Insights
Sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in vanity metrics, such as the number of likes or followers. It is important to note that these metrics do not necessarily translate to sales. To convert social media engagement into leads, businesses need to focus on meaningful insights that reveal how engaged their audience is and how this engagement can be leveraged.
For instance, instead of focusing on the number of likes, businesses should analyze which types of posts are receiving the most engagement and why. This includes checking the topics, formats or times of day that generate more interest and engagement. By identifying patterns and trends, businesses can enhance their content strategy to focus on what resonates most with their audience.
Identifying and Nurturing Potential Leads
After having a better understanding of what drives engagement, businesses can begin to identify potential leads within their social media audience. This is where advanced analytics tools come into play. Tools that track and analyze individual user interactions will help identify users who consistently engage with posted content.
For example, a user who frequently comments on posts, shares content, or clicks on links may demonstrate a strong interest in the business’s products or services. Businesses can categorize such users as potential leads. More focus is placed on this category by nurturing them through personalized content, direct engagement, and targeted offers.
It is also good to note that social media analytics is a powerful tool for analyzing competitors’ strategies, too. By monitoring their comment sections, a business can identify gaps or unmet needs in their audience that present opportunities to capture market share.
Leveraging Social Media Ads for Lead Generation
Social media advertising is another effective way to convert social media engagement into leads. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) offer advanced targeting options that allow businesses to create highly personalized ad campaigns based on user data. Businesses can create ads specifically designed to appeal to their most engaged followers.
For instance, if analytics reveal that a particular segment of followers is highly interested in a specific product, businesses can create ads that feature this product and offer a special promotion or discount.
Turning Engagement into Sales Through Conversion Optimization
Once potential leads are identified and targeted through ads or personalized content, the next step is to optimize the conversion process. This involves ensuring a seamless journey from social media engagement to lead capture and eventual sale. A critical aspect of this process is the landing page – a dedicated page on the business’s website designed to capture leads.
The landing pages must be tailored to match the expectations set by the social media content or ads that drove the traffic. For example, if an ad on a social media platform promises a free or discounted offer, the landing page should prominently feature this offer. Additionally, it helps A/B test different landing page designs, headlines and calls to action to identify the most effective strategies.
Using Analytics to Measure and Improve ROI
Unlike traditional marketing channels, social media analytics can track and measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. By tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as reach, click-through rates, conversions, and cost per lead, businesses can measure the effectiveness of their social media campaigns and make necessary adjustments.
Continuous monitoring and optimization ensure that social media efforts drive engagement and contribute to the business’s bottom line.
In conclusion, converting social media engagement into actionable leads and sales opportunities requires a strategic approach leveraging social media analytics’ power. Businesses can tailor their content, identify and nurture potential leads, and optimize their conversion strategies by moving beyond vanity metrics and focusing on meaningful insights. This will ultimately drive business growth and success in today’s competitive digital landscape.
Alan F Burke CPA
From Likes to Leads: Converting Social Media Analytics into Business Opportunities
September 1, 2024 · Blog, What's New in Technology
⏱ 4 min read
Social media has become a powerful tool for helping businesses reach their prospects and customers. By using social media, a business can connect with its audience, build brand awareness, and drive sales. However, many struggle to convert social media engagement – likes, shares, comments, and followers – into tangible business opportunities. Transforming these engagements into actionable leads and sales is where the real power of social media lies. To successfully unlock this potential, businesses must effectively use social media analytics.
Understanding Social Media Analytics
Social media analytics involves gathering and analyzing data from social media platforms to help make informed business decisions. This data includes metrics such as engagement rates, reach, impressions, follower growth, and sentiment analysis, among others. By understanding what this data signifies, businesses can gain valuable insights into the behavior, preferences, and needs of their audience. These insights are then used to tailor marketing strategies, create more relevant content, and improve customer interactions.
The Shift from Vanity Metrics to Meaningful Insights
Sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in vanity metrics, such as the number of likes or followers. It is important to note that these metrics do not necessarily translate to sales. To convert social media engagement into leads, businesses need to focus on meaningful insights that reveal how engaged their audience is and how this engagement can be leveraged.
For instance, instead of focusing on the number of likes, businesses should analyze which types of posts are receiving the most engagement and why. This includes checking the topics, formats or times of day that generate more interest and engagement. By identifying patterns and trends, businesses can enhance their content strategy to focus on what resonates most with their audience.
Identifying and Nurturing Potential Leads
After having a better understanding of what drives engagement, businesses can begin to identify potential leads within their social media audience. This is where advanced analytics tools come into play. Tools that track and analyze individual user interactions will help identify users who consistently engage with posted content.
For example, a user who frequently comments on posts, shares content, or clicks on links may demonstrate a strong interest in the business’s products or services. Businesses can categorize such users as potential leads. More focus is placed on this category by nurturing them through personalized content, direct engagement, and targeted offers.
It is also good to note that social media analytics is a powerful tool for analyzing competitors’ strategies, too. By monitoring their comment sections, a business can identify gaps or unmet needs in their audience that present opportunities to capture market share.
Leveraging Social Media Ads for Lead Generation
Social media advertising is another effective way to convert social media engagement into leads. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) offer advanced targeting options that allow businesses to create highly personalized ad campaigns based on user data. Businesses can create ads specifically designed to appeal to their most engaged followers.
For instance, if analytics reveal that a particular segment of followers is highly interested in a specific product, businesses can create ads that feature this product and offer a special promotion or discount.
Turning Engagement into Sales Through Conversion Optimization
Once potential leads are identified and targeted through ads or personalized content, the next step is to optimize the conversion process. This involves ensuring a seamless journey from social media engagement to lead capture and eventual sale. A critical aspect of this process is the landing page – a dedicated page on the business’s website designed to capture leads.
The landing pages must be tailored to match the expectations set by the social media content or ads that drove the traffic. For example, if an ad on a social media platform promises a free or discounted offer, the landing page should prominently feature this offer. Additionally, it helps A/B test different landing page designs, headlines and calls to action to identify the most effective strategies.
Using Analytics to Measure and Improve ROI
Unlike traditional marketing channels, social media analytics can track and measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. By tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as reach, click-through rates, conversions, and cost per lead, businesses can measure the effectiveness of their social media campaigns and make necessary adjustments.
Continuous monitoring and optimization ensure that social media efforts drive engagement and contribute to the business’s bottom line.
In conclusion, converting social media engagement into actionable leads and sales opportunities requires a strategic approach leveraging social media analytics’ power. Businesses can tailor their content, identify and nurture potential leads, and optimize their conversion strategies by moving beyond vanity metrics and focusing on meaningful insights. This will ultimately drive business growth and success in today’s competitive digital landscape.
Disclaimer
These articles are intended to provide general resources for the tax and accounting needs of small businesses and individuals. Service2Client LLC is the author, but is not engaged in rendering specific legal, accounting, financial or professional advice. Service2Client LLC makes no representation that the recommendations of Service2Client LLC will achieve any result. The NSAD has not reviewed any of the Service2Client LLC content. Readers are encouraged to contact a professional regarding the topics in these articles. The images linked to these articles are protected by copyright and should not be copied for any reason.
Whether it’s a private equity transaction or an institutional or retail investor, analyzing a company’s financial statements is an important part of fundamental analysis. One important but basic way to analyze whether a company is worth investing in is through the expanded accounting equation. The most straightforward equation to analyze a business’s balance sheet is:
Assets = Liabilities + Shareholder’s Equity
However, there are more detailed equations that analysts can employ to more closely examine a company’s financial situation. One way to look at it is by more comprehensive equations that break down net income and the transactions related to the equity owners (dividends, etc.).
This equation is a building block of accounting because it focuses on double-entry accounting – or that each occurrence impacts the bifurcated accounting equation – requiring the correct solution to always be in balance. This system is used for journal entries, regardless of the type of transaction. Looking at this equation in greater detail, here’s a more granular example:
Assets = Retained Earnings + Liabilities + Share Capital
Assets are the capital that give a business the ability to benefit from projected, increased productivity and hopefully increased gains. Whether it’s short-term (less than 12 months) or long-term (more than 12 months), it can take the form of real estate, cash, cash-equivalents, pre-paid expenses, accounts receivable, etc.
Liabilities are the amounts owed to lenders due to past agreements. This is related to the sum of liabilities, which is the total of current (up to 12 months) liabilities, plus long-term (more than 12 months) debt and related obligations. This takes the form of loans, accounts payable, owed taxes, etc. Shareholder’s equity is how much the company owners may assert ownership on after accounting for all liabilities.
Another way this equation can be expressed is as follows:
Depending on the financial outcome of the company, dividends and expenses may be negative numbers.
To further explain, these variations on the equation help analysts break down shareholder’s equity. Revenues and expenses illustrate the delta in net income over discrete accounting/earning periods from sales and costs, respectively. Stockholder transactions are able to be accounted for by looking at what capital the original stockholders provided to the business and dividends, or earnings distributed to the company’s stockholders. Retained earnings are carried over from a prior accounting period to the present accounting period. Despite being elementary, the information is helpful for business managers and investors to develop a higher level of analysis.
When it comes to evaluating bankruptcy, it can help investors determine the likelihood of receiving compensation. When it comes to liabilities, should debts be due sooner or over longer periods of time, these debts always have priority. When it comes to liquidated assets, these are then used to satisfy shareholders’ equity until funds are exhausted.
While this is not a comprehensive look at how to analyze a company, it provides internal and external stakeholders with a way to build a strong financial analytical foundation.
Alan F Burke CPA
Looking at the Expanded Accounting Equation
September 1, 2024 · Blog, General Business News
⏱ 3 min read
Whether it’s a private equity transaction or an institutional or retail investor, analyzing a company’s financial statements is an important part of fundamental analysis. One important but basic way to analyze whether a company is worth investing in is through the expanded accounting equation. The most straightforward equation to analyze a business’s balance sheet is:
Assets = Liabilities + Shareholder’s Equity
However, there are more detailed equations that analysts can employ to more closely examine a company’s financial situation. One way to look at it is by more comprehensive equations that break down net income and the transactions related to the equity owners (dividends, etc.).
This equation is a building block of accounting because it focuses on double-entry accounting – or that each occurrence impacts the bifurcated accounting equation – requiring the correct solution to always be in balance. This system is used for journal entries, regardless of the type of transaction. Looking at this equation in greater detail, here’s a more granular example:
Assets = Retained Earnings + Liabilities + Share Capital
Assets are the capital that give a business the ability to benefit from projected, increased productivity and hopefully increased gains. Whether it’s short-term (less than 12 months) or long-term (more than 12 months), it can take the form of real estate, cash, cash-equivalents, pre-paid expenses, accounts receivable, etc.
Liabilities are the amounts owed to lenders due to past agreements. This is related to the sum of liabilities, which is the total of current (up to 12 months) liabilities, plus long-term (more than 12 months) debt and related obligations. This takes the form of loans, accounts payable, owed taxes, etc. Shareholder’s equity is how much the company owners may assert ownership on after accounting for all liabilities.
Another way this equation can be expressed is as follows:
Depending on the financial outcome of the company, dividends and expenses may be negative numbers.
To further explain, these variations on the equation help analysts break down shareholder’s equity. Revenues and expenses illustrate the delta in net income over discrete accounting/earning periods from sales and costs, respectively. Stockholder transactions are able to be accounted for by looking at what capital the original stockholders provided to the business and dividends, or earnings distributed to the company’s stockholders. Retained earnings are carried over from a prior accounting period to the present accounting period. Despite being elementary, the information is helpful for business managers and investors to develop a higher level of analysis.
When it comes to evaluating bankruptcy, it can help investors determine the likelihood of receiving compensation. When it comes to liabilities, should debts be due sooner or over longer periods of time, these debts always have priority. When it comes to liquidated assets, these are then used to satisfy shareholders’ equity until funds are exhausted.
While this is not a comprehensive look at how to analyze a company, it provides internal and external stakeholders with a way to build a strong financial analytical foundation.
Disclaimer
These articles are intended to provide general resources for the tax and accounting needs of small businesses and individuals. Service2Client LLC is the author, but is not engaged in rendering specific legal, accounting, financial or professional advice. Service2Client LLC makes no representation that the recommendations of Service2Client LLC will achieve any result. The NSAD has not reviewed any of the Service2Client LLC content. Readers are encouraged to contact a professional regarding the topics in these articles. The images linked to these articles are protected by copyright and should not be copied for any reason.
Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (HR 9747) – This continuing resolution was introduced on Sept. 22 as a “clean” extenuation of the federal budget to fund the government until Dec. 20. Up until this point, a handful of Republicans had attached unrelated bills pertaining to November election restrictions, which they did not have the votes to pass in the House and would never have passed in the Senate. After several weeks of threatening to shut down the government by not passing a continuing appropriations bill, the House Speaker proposed this “last-minute” tied over with the minimum appropriations necessary to keep the government up and running. While it still does not solidify the federal budget for the 2025 fiscal year (Sept. 29, 2024, through Sept. 27, 2025), this bill is expected to pass in the House on Sept. 25 and to clear the Senate and be signed by the president by Sept. 29.
Social media has become a powerful tool for helping businesses reach their prospects and customers. By using social media, a business can connect with its audience, build brand awareness, and drive sales. However, many struggle to convert social media engagement – likes, shares, comments, and followers – into tangible business opportunities. Transforming these engagements into actionable leads and sales is where the real power of social media lies. To successfully unlock this potential, businesses must effectively use social media analytics.
Whether it’s a private equity transaction or an institutional or retail investor, analyzing a company’s financial statements is an important part of fundamental analysis. One important but basic way to analyze whether a company is worth investing in is through the expanded accounting equation. The most straightforward equation to analyze a business’s balance sheet is: