Is your store optimized for consumer engagement? Although much of the attention brands are giving to consumer engagement is focused online, 80% of purchase decisions are still made in the physical world. Neglecting in-store engagement is a massive blind spot for brands.

Digital in-store engagement is a powerful tool for unlocking new revenues, generating leads, and collecting data.

#1 Artificial Intelligence

AI avatars are the new frontier of digital engagement. They’re your new concierge, brand ambassador, and in-store assistant. Brands like Levi Strauss & Company are even using AI avatars as fashion models, providing consumers with avatars that look more like them when they shop.

AI avatars can bring personality and customized assistance to digital interactive kiosks. Put a face to your digital in-store presence with an AI avatar.

#2 Self Serve Kiosks

Digital engagement isn’t just about advertising in-store, although it can put the spotlight on your contests and promotions. Self serve kiosks can also drive direct revenues and cut down on labor costs.

Self serve kiosks that enable self-ordering can reduce demands put on staff. While the technology has been explored effectively in the restaurant industry, it’s catching on in retail environments as well.

Not only can they reduce the need for staff at checkout, but they can also be used to facilitate consumers trying on different sizes or models of items, and speed up the checkout process for consumers who are in a hurry.

A self serve kiosk can also give consumers more time to explore contests and promotions. Someone might be quick to withhold their information if they feel pressured by a staff member, but given more time, they might be willing to explore the details on their own.

#3 Bring Your Digital Assets to the Real World

Interactive kiosks can also help you leverage valuable digital investments that you’ve already made into the real world. Your online properties can enliven and enhance your physical retail environments. You can extend your digital assets to the in-store experience and get more out of your investments.

#4 Augmented Reality

With the help of an interactive kiosk, you can make the most of Augmented Reality technology right in-store. Augmented Reality today can fulfill a wide range of possibilities, including:

• Augmented Reality mirrors that let consumers “try on” clothes, shoes, fashion accessories, etc.
• Face filters that can show consumers how different cosmetics will look on their faces.
• Virtual environments that can open up all kinds of possibilities for different interactive experiences.

Tap into the power of AR and elevate your brick-and-mortar environment.

#5 Gamification

Gamification experiences can add an element of fun and the unexpected to your in-store experience. Brands can often work directly with interactive kiosk companies on off-the-shelf gamification experiences or custom, branded games that will surprise and engage consumers on a whole new level.

Gamification experiences are great if you’re planning an in-store activation or throwing a special event.

Your digital assets are valuable, and they don’t have to be siloed online. Bring them to your in-store environments with the help of digital interactive kiosks.

If you market your business online or depend on being on the front page of a search results page, you probably take an interest in SEO. Like every year, Google has issued another core update with far-reaching implications for those who create and market content online.

Here, we’ve gathered the main points you should know about this important update.

Google Loves Helpful Content

The March 2024 core update is an unofficial sequel to their Helpful Content updates from 2022 and 2023. Those updates focused on putting people-first content first instead of rewarding content made to satisfy only the algorithm.

Instead, good content satisfies both. The Helpful Content system introduced a site-wide (and later page-by-page) signal that ranked pages on helpfulness to the user.

This was context-specific, so news sites and reviewers were held to higher standards. Many businesses are hosted online, best seen in the iGaming industry where digital slots or live game rooms are contained on-site.

When someone searches for online roulette at Paddy’s, the right site will appear at the top of the results page without fail. For primarily written content, however, it can get trickier. There’s no guarantee that written content is genuinely helpful to the users reading them, or if a writer has the expertise to back it up.

Update Site Content to Follow E-E-A-T

Once the update rolled out, a lot of websites took a hit to their SEO profile. While this included Google’s intended targets, legitimate sites, and businesses also had some trouble. This is nothing new for SEO experts who have been around for a while.

The same watchwords apply when it comes to surviving this update – adapt to the changing guidelines and remember that quality trumps quantity.

If your business has had any SEO issues, you should take a look at pre-existing content with E-E-A-T in mind. Unfortunately, outdated content or content with errors may be flagged as untrustworthy, even if that wasn’t your intention.

While Google has shown leniency toward some AI uses, they are very sensitive to out-of-date information gathered by large language models (LLMs).

If you aren’t aware of what LLMs are and how they make generative AI possible, leading AI researchers at IBM have explained here. If your non-AI page has errors or any update concerns, it could see diminished performance.

Since 2014, SEO experts have long known that Google ranks content with E-A-T – Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. That changed in December of 2022 when they added Experience to the front of this very important acronym. This is to help nudge content where reviewers and other sources have verifiable experience to the top of the result page.

Spam Policies Have Been Updated

Google likes to launch other updates or policy changes alongside their core updates, to put forward consistent advice. This time, Google has re-tooled spam policies to strengthen their methods of rooting out low-quality or repetitive content. E-E-A-T helps with that a lot, but they’ve made other changes, too.

Since spam can be subjective and context-specific, Google has explained that human actions play a larger role when analyzing sites for spam. This update targets three main practices – making low-quality automated content at scale, leveraging expired domains to boost low-quality content, and seeding low-quality content in a reputable site.

In theory, ensuring content is high quality and original will avoid most issues online businesses could face.

After every Google core update, it takes some time to fully assess how the SEO field has changed. In the future, there will be more insights surrounding this update. In the meantime, adhering to E-E-A-T as strictly as possible seems to be a winning strategy for the future Google has planned for its search engine.

Las Vegas, a city known for its vibrant tourism industry and bustling commerce, relies heavily on the trucking industry to transport goods and materials.

However, with the high volume of truck traffic on the highways surrounding the city, the risk of accidents involving large commercial vehicles is a significant concern.

These collisions can result in devastating consequences, including severe injuries, fatalities, and extensive property damage.

Victims of truck accidents often face a long and challenging road to recovery, dealing with physical, emotional, and financial burdens. In such cases, seeking the guidance of a skilled Las Vegas truck accident lawyer can be crucial in navigating the complex legal process and securing fair compensation for the damages incurred.

Enhancing Driver Training and Education

One of the most critical factors in reducing truck collisions is ensuring that drivers are properly trained and educated. Trucking companies should invest in comprehensive training programs that go beyond the minimum requirements set by federal regulations.

These programs should focus on defensive driving techniques, safe loading and unloading practices, and the importance of maintaining a well-rested and alert state behind the wheel.

In addition to initial training, ongoing education, and refresher courses should be mandatory for all truck drivers. These courses can help drivers stay up-to-date with the latest safety protocols, traffic laws, and best practices in the industry.

By prioritizing continuous learning and professional development, trucking companies can cultivate a culture of safety and responsibility among their drivers.

Improving Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection Procedures

Proper vehicle maintenance and regular inspections are essential for ensuring the safety of large commercial trucks on the road. Trucking companies should adhere to stringent maintenance schedules and keep detailed records of all repairs and inspections performed on their vehicles.

This includes regular checks of brakes, tires, lights, and other critical safety components.

In addition to company-led maintenance efforts, government agencies can play a role in promoting vehicle safety through rigorous inspection programs. The Nevada Highway Patrol, in collaboration with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), should conduct frequent and thorough inspections of trucks operating on Las Vegas highways.

These inspections can help identify and address potential safety issues before they lead to accidents.

Leveraging Technology to Enhance Safety

The advent of technology offers promising avenues for enhancing road safety, particularly in reducing the incidence of truck collisions on Las Vegas highways. Here are key technological investments and strategies that trucking companies should consider:

• Adopt Advanced Safety Systems: Incorporating collision avoidance systems, lane departure warnings, and electronic stability control into trucks can significantly aid in alerting drivers to imminent risks, potentially averting accidents caused by human mistakes or fatigue.

• Implement Telematics and Data Analytics: Utilizing these technologies to monitor driver behavior and vehicle performance provides valuable insights. By analyzing data on speed, braking patterns, and service hours, companies can pinpoint drivers with higher risk profiles and take corrective actions to foster a safer driving environment.

Addressing Driver Fatigue and Hours of Service Regulations

Driver fatigue is a leading cause of truck accidents, and trucking companies and drivers must take steps to mitigate this risk. The FMCSA has established hours of service (HOS) regulations that limit the number of hours a driver can operate a commercial vehicle without rest.

These regulations are designed to ensure that drivers have adequate time for sleep and recovery between shifts.

Trucking companies should strictly enforce HOS regulations and utilize electronic logging devices (ELDs) to accurately track driver hours. They should also promote a culture that encourages drivers to prioritize rest and avoid pushing themselves beyond their limits.

This may involve providing adequate rest areas and facilities, as well as offering incentives for safe driving practices.

Collaborating with Government Agencies and Safety Advocates

Reducing truck collisions on Las Vegas highways requires collaboration between trucking companies, government agencies, and safety advocates.

The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) and the FMCSA should work closely with the trucking industry to identify high-risk areas and develop targeted interventions to improve safety.

This collaboration can include initiatives such as infrastructure improvements, increased enforcement of traffic laws, and public awareness campaigns about sharing the road safely with large trucks.

By fostering open communication and partnerships between these stakeholders, we can create a more comprehensive and effective approach to truck safety on Las Vegas highways.

Promoting Public Awareness and Education

Educating the general public about safe driving practices around large trucks is another essential component of reducing collisions. Many accidents involving trucks and passenger vehicles occur due to a lack of understanding of the unique challenges and limitations of operating a large commercial vehicle.

Government agencies and safety advocates should develop public awareness campaigns that teach motorists how to share the road safely with trucks. This can include information about blind spots, safe following distances, and the importance of allowing trucks adequate space to make turns or change lanes.

By increasing public knowledge and promoting responsible driving habits, we can create a safer environment for all road users.

Advocating for Stronger Safety Regulations and Enforcement

While the trucking industry has made significant strides in improving safety in recent years, there is still room for stronger regulations and enforcement.

Safety advocates and government agencies should continue to push for more stringent standards in areas such as driver training, vehicle maintenance, and hours of service compliance.

Additionally, there should be increased enforcement of existing regulations through roadside inspections, compliance audits, and penalties for companies and drivers who violate safety rules.

By holding the trucking industry accountable and ensuring that safety is always the top priority, we can create a more robust and effective regulatory framework that helps prevent accidents and save lives.

Supporting Accident Victims and Their Families

Despite the best efforts to prevent truck collisions, accidents will still occur. When they do, victims and their families must have access to the support and resources they need to recover and rebuild their lives. This is where the role of a seasoned Las Vegas truck accident attorney becomes crucial.

An experienced attorney can help accident victims deal with the complex legal process, ensuring that their rights are protected and that they receive fair compensation for their injuries and losses. This may include compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

By advocating for the needs of accident victims and holding negligent parties accountable, truck accident lawyers play a vital role in promoting justice and safety on Las Vegas highways.