The trend of modern software requiring a constant paid subscription has hit businesses hard. When you need apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on every computer in your office, that usually means paying subscription fees across the board. It adds up, and you’re never done paying. The alternative is to make a larger investment on day one to avoid the constant cost later on.

Microsoft Office 2024 has a lifetime license with no recurring payments. It comes with many of the same apps as Microsoft 365, but you only have to pay $129.97 (reg. $149) one time for PC or Macs.

No more subscription fees

This license comes with lifetime access to

• Word
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• OneNote

The 2024 version adds some smart upgrades, too. There’s co-authoring built into Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, so teams can work together in real-time, even from different locations. It also uses AI to assist with tasks like writing, formatting, and data analysis. Think smart compose in Word, dynamic arrays in Excel, and captioned presentation recording in PowerPoint—all designed to help your team work faster and more efficiently.

Unlike Microsoft 365, this version doesn’t require a subscription or auto-renewal. It’s tied to your Microsoft account, not a physical device, so you’ll still get important updates and won’t need to worry about recurring charges. And since it works on both Macs and PCs, it’s flexible enough for any kind of office setup.

Why this deal is worth it

Software subscriptions aren’t a viable option for businesses that are trying to cut costs. Instead of paying monthly indefinitely, now you can get Microsoft Office 2024 and get many of the same apps for life with no recurring cost.

Get Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC on sale for $129.97.

Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC: One-Time Purchase – $129.97

See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Fintech company Stripe has an unusual way of asking for customer input — and Elon Musk thinks it’s a “good idea.”

Stripe CEO Patrick Collison stated in a post on X on Tuesday that the company brings in one customer to speak for the first half hour of its management team meeting every other week. The user is asked to give honest feedback about Stripe’s products in front of 40 of the company’s leaders.

Related: This AI Startup Spent $0 on Marketing. Its Revenue Hit $200 Million in March.

Stripe has plenty of other ways to get feedback, including responses from a Complaint Submission Form and emails customers send to complaints@stripe.com. However, Collison noted in his post that the tactic of getting feedback in person at the biweekly meeting “somehow always spurs new thoughts and investigations.”

A day after Collison shared Stripe’s feedback strategy on X, Musk replied to the post and expressed his approval.

“Good idea,” Musk wrote.

Good idea

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 10, 2025

Collison co-founded Stripe in 2010 as a payment processing platform that allows businesses to process credit cards, debit cards, and other payments both online and in person.

According to Stripe’s 2024 annual letter, half of Fortune 100 companies, including Nvidia, Comcast, and PepsiCo, use the startup’s technology to handle $1.4 trillion in financial transactions. Stripe also handles payments for Amazon, Google, and Shopify.

Related: Payment Processor Stripe Lays Off Employees Via Cartoon Duck

Stripe additionally claimed in the annual letter that it was the “revenue engine of the AI era,” with almost 80% of the Forbes AI 50, including Anysphere and Anthropic, using its platform.

The startup was last valued at $91.5 billion in February.

As business owners and entrepreneurs, it’s important for us to understand the power of our values and how they guide our businesses every step of the way, from the initial idea for a company to how the business is run once it’s established. But our values don’t just guide the inner workings of our businesses. They also help determine how and where we invest our money, both personally and professionally.

Consider the meaning behind the saying, “Put your money where your mouth is.” You can’t just talk about your values; you need to take the time to invest in organizations, causes and other areas that align with them. For me, putting my money where my mouth was began with investing in the things that mattered to me once I realized the profound impact intentional investments could have.

My first major investment was in clean health solutions, inspired by my passion for reducing toxic exposure in everyday life. This initial step was prompted by my desire to not only advocate for change but to actively contribute to creating it. That moment reinforced my belief that aligning investments with my values is one of the most powerful ways to make a difference.

And while socially responsible investing based on your values (an investment approach allowing an investor to create both social change and see financial returns) may seem intimidating, it doesn’t have to be. Whether your values prompt you to invest in sustainable business practices or to hold stock in diversely owned businesses, investing in the things that matter most to you is more straightforward than you likely realize.

Let’s discuss how you can start investing your money into areas that align directly with your business values.

Identify your values

Identifying your values will be key to beginning your values-based investment journey. What matters to you will have a lot of guiding power in where you ultimately choose to invest your money, especially when you aim to have a local and global impact with your choices.

When it came to identifying my business values, I pinpointed them by reflecting on the principles that matter most to me: creating clean, sustainable solutions and improving human health. To identify your own values, think about causes you’ve previously contributed to and themes you’re drawn to in your daily life. Personal values can have a great deal of intersection with business values, and it can be beneficial to define them from the get-go.

I also considered the areas where I’d had the most experience and where I could have the greatest impact. By combining my expertise with these values, I’ve been able to define a clear vision for my company’s investments.

Related: What to Do When Personal Values Clash With Business Decisions

Consider the areas you want to invest in

Individual interest in sustainable investment opportunities is on the rise, according to Morgan Stanley’s 2024 Sustainable Signals report. 77% of global investors are interested in sustainable investing.

For me, I look for opportunities where my money can have a meaningful impact, whether it’s advancing clean technologies, supporting health and wellness or promoting ethical practices. My values serve as a compass, ensuring every decision reflects my commitment to creating a better future for people and the planet.

Your values will serve the same purpose as you begin to research organizations, companies, events and more that align with your values and causes. My research involves thoroughly vetting organizations by reviewing their mission, leadership and track record. I look at their financial health, transparency and long-term goals. I ask questions like:

• Are they solving a meaningful problem?
• Are their practices ethical and sustainable?
• Do they align with my vision for a healthier, cleaner world?

By posing these questions, I know my investments are both impactful and aligned with my values. Your questions may look different from mine, but they and your research are vital.

Related: Doing Well by Doing Good — How Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurs Are Changing the World

Invest based on your values

It’s time to begin investing. There are many different ways to do so, giving you the freedom to pick and choose the methods that are right for you. You can invest financially through stocks, enter into partnerships and donate to organizations (especially consider recurring monthly donations, which are hugely helpful for small organizations). I’ve chosen a mix of equity investments, partnerships and philanthropic contributions.

For example, I’ve invested in companies that develop clean skincare products and health technologies, as well as supported educational initiatives that promote sustainability. What ultimately led me to invest in these ways was the alignment between the organization’s mission and my values, as well as the opportunity to drive innovation and positive change. It’s all about investing in ways that work best for you and your business.

Remember that investing in the things that matter to you is a unique way to bring your professional values and investments together in alignment for long-term growth and broader impact. Investing guided by your principles will allow you to back your words up with real action in support of positive efforts.

If you think AI is “just a tool,” you’re already behind. Billion-dollar brands aren’t just using it to save time — they’re using it to replace entire departments and slash overhead. But here’s the real threat most entrepreneurs miss: What happens when your clients realize AI can do 80% of what you offer, without you?

While most are still using AI to brainstorm posts or write rough drafts, the top 1% are quietly building AI teams that run sales, operations, and marketing 24/7. In this video, I’m revealing the exact AI playbook billion-dollar brands are using to automate, dominate and stay miles ahead of everyone else.

Replace your sales team without hiring a closer:
Automate lead research, qualification, email follow-ups and sales call bookings using Salesforce AI and Zapier’s Outreach Agent. It’s like hiring a top-performing sales rep — without the salary.

Delegate ops and admin so you can focus on growth:
Say goodbye to inbox overload, scattered calendars and endless SOP creation. Tools like Superhuman, Reclaim, Motion and Scribehow give you back your time.

Predict your next breakthrough before it happens:
Don’t wait for results to tank before you react. With Google AI Studio, you’ll know which content, emails, or funnels are working—and why—so you can double down on what converts.

Whether you’re a solopreneur or running a lean team, this AI playbook will help you eliminate inefficiencies, grow faster and future-proof your business — without needing a single line of code. I’ll walk you through each step — even if you’re just getting started with AI.

Download the free “AI Success Kit” (limited time only). And you’ll also get a free chapter from my brand new book, “The Wolf is at the Door — How to Survive and Thrive in an AI-Driven World.”

As a solo founder bootstrapping PitchBob.io, an AI-powered platform that helps early-stage entrepreneurs structure their startup ideas, craft compelling pitches and generate documents for accelerators and investors, I quickly realized that building a company without external funding means learning how to do nearly everything yourself — from product development to customer support and yes, even SEO.

At first, I outsourced SEO to an agency at $2,000 per month. But over time, I noticed the returns didn’t justify the spend. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands. This article outlines the 15 strategies I used to grow our organic traffic, increase visibility and improve rankings — all without relying on an agency or massive budget.

Related: 5 Ways to Bootstrap SEO When You’re on a Tight Budget

1. Monitor and improve site health

The foundation of good SEO is technical performance. I started by setting up regular audits using tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs to monitor the health of our website. These tools helped identify issues like broken links, crawl errors, slow page speeds and mobile usability problems.

By keeping our Site Health score above 90, I ensured that search engines could easily crawl and index our pages. A fast, error-free site not only ranks better but also provides a better experience for users, which reduces bounce rates and increases time on site, both positive signals for SEO.

2. Leverage ABC link exchanges

Link building is one of the most powerful (and time-consuming) elements of SEO. I began receiving outreach emails from companies looking to exchange backlinks. Instead of ignoring them or engaging in basic reciprocal linking, I proposed ABC exchanges.

In an ABC link exchange, site A links to site B, site B links to site C, and site C links to site A. This model avoids the penalty associated with obvious reciprocal linking and creates a more organic-looking backlink profile. It allowed me to build quality links from high-authority domains without doing traditional cold outreach.

3. Use AI to build a content cluster

Content is still king, but structure is queen. I developed a content strategy based on topic clustering — building pillar pages with related subtopics internally linked. I used AI writing tools to generate dozens of articles around our niche, focusing on long-tail keywords.

This silo structure helped organize content logically and improve topical authority in the eyes of search engines. Internal linking between cluster pages and pillar articles improved crawlability and made the site more useful for visitors, which boosted engagement metrics.

4. Expand through multilingual SEO

Since our users are international, I knew that optimizing for English alone was limiting our reach. I used AI translation tools to create versions of our content in multiple languages. This included not only landing pages but also blog content and product descriptions.

When we hit technical limits on our platform, we created subdomains for specific regions and translated content there. This approach helped us reach markets like Asia and Europe more effectively. It also gave us localized content, which performs better in region-specific search engines.

5. Build a community forum

Search engines value user-generated content. I decided to build a community forum using Discourse to encourage discussions, feedback and knowledge sharing. The initial content was generated and seeded using GPT-based prompts to simulate organic engagement.

By structuring categories around high-volume keywords and startup topics, we created a library of searchable content that continues to grow and index. Community forums not only drive SEO but also deepen engagement and build trust with users.

6. Publish press releases with data

Press releases aren’t just for PR — they’re a strong SEO asset when used strategically. I wrote and distributed releases through reputable networks, focusing on feature launches and research-based updates.

I made sure each release included original data or insights, which made them more appealing to journalists and more likely to be syndicated across multiple sites. Each distribution generated authoritative backlinks and reinforced our credibility within our niche.

7. Use global and niche directories

Directory listings are one of the oldest SEO tactics, and they still work when done right. I registered PitchBob.io with global directories, industry-specific platforms and local business listings. Some required payment, but most were low-cost.

These listings provided steady, do-follow backlinks and drove occasional referral traffic. They also increased our domain authority and helped us appear in more long-tail search results.

Related: The 8 Best Free and Low-Cost SEO Tools for Small Businesses

8. Turn partnerships into backlinks

Every business collaboration is an opportunity for SEO. I made a habit of requesting backlinks from partners, especially universities, accelerators and ecosystem players with high domain authority.

This wasn’t just a cold ask — I would typically create a piece of content or a social media post around the partnership and then follow up with a polite request for a mention or link on their website. Over time, these added up to a strong backlink profile with high-trust domains.

9. Join founder-led SEO sprints

I joined communities where founders collaborate on SEO. These groups organize content-writing and backlink-sharing sprints where participants support each other’s growth. During each sprint, I contributed articles or shared links — and received the same in return.

This collaborative model is especially useful for solo founders who don’t have a team but want to maintain consistent SEO efforts. It builds relationships and expands visibility through peer support.

10. Become a media contributor

Contributing to a high-authority publication can dramatically improve your SEO footprint. I applied and was accepted as a contributor to a business media platform. Writing articles on entrepreneurship and innovation allowed me to earn quality backlinks while sharing valuable insights.

Even though direct traffic from these articles was moderate, the SEO value of being linked from a respected domain made a big difference. It also improved credibility when reaching out to potential partners or customers.

11. Use lifetime deal platforms for SEO

Submitting to SaaS deal platforms helped us gain both exposure and strong backlinks. These platforms often create evergreen product pages that remain indexed and link back to your site.

It’s a lesser-known SEO strategy, but one that brings value over time — especially if your deal gets attention from affiliate bloggers or community forums.

12. Launch on Product Hunt

Launching on Product Hunt was a turning point. Winning “Product of the Day” earned us dozens of backlinks from blogs, newsletters and directories that cover Product Hunt launches.

The event also drove direct traffic and helped establish social proof, which in turn increased the chances of other websites mentioning us — another indirect benefit to SEO.

13. Partner with events and conferences

We treated each event, whether online or in-person, as a potential backlink opportunity. Participating in startup events, hackathons or speaking engagements allowed us to be featured on event websites and partner pages.

These often included logos and company descriptions with backlinks, contributing to our domain authority and helping build our digital footprint.

14. Use podcasts as backlink gateways

Although I haven’t fully implemented this strategy yet, many founders report that being interviewed on small podcasts can lead to backlinks on platforms like Spotify, Apple and Google Podcasts. Even if the podcast itself has a small audience, the distribution network provides strong SEO signals.

In the near future, I plan to test this by appearing on startup-focused podcasts and monitoring the SEO results.

15. Respect the fundamentals

Lastly, I never neglected the basics. Each of our key landing pages contains substantial, original content — enough to inform users and satisfy search engines. Avoiding thin pages and ensuring keyword optimization helped us maintain consistent rankings across core pages.

While many founders chase advanced tactics, simply writing good, helpful content is often the most sustainable strategy of all.

Related: How to Use SEO Like a Big Business — On a Small Business Budget

SEO doesn’t require a massive budget — it requires consistency, curiosity and a willingness to learn. As a solo founder, I turned what seemed like an expensive mystery into a predictable system.

You don’t have to master every SEO nuance, but by focusing on structure, partnerships and content, you can build a steady, scalable traffic engine that works even while you sleep. If I did it solo, you can do it too.

Learn how to grow your brand with limited budget using proven strategies from beauty industry leader Nilofer Vahora.

In this action packed webinar you’ll discover how small businesses and entrepreneurs can leverage cost-effective marketing strategies to achieve impressive results without massive spending. CMO Nilofer Vahora shares the exact techniques that helped brands like amika grow from 50 to 450+ influencers through smart resource allocation and strategic partnerships.

Register now and you’ll learn:

• Build a Powerful Influencer Community on a Budget: Discover how to identify and partner with nano and micro-influencers who deliver authentic engagement at a fraction of the cost of celebrity endorsements.

• Create Engaging, Conversion-Driven Content: Learn how to leverage trends while maintaining brand authenticity, and discover techniques for fostering community engagement through strategic comment responses.

• Transform Your Physical Space into a Content Creation Hub: Convert your existing locations (office, store, salon) into powerful brand experience centers that attract creators and loyal customers.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to maximize your marketing impact without maximizing your budget!

About the Speaker:

Nilofer Vahora’s expertise spans a diverse portfolio of beauty and fashion brands, with a special focus on digital-first strategies and consumer-centric growth. Most recently, she was Chief Marketing Officer at Milk Makeup, where her innovative brand-building initiatives helped the brand achieve global recognition as a clean beauty pioneer. Her leadership was instrumental in transforming Milk Makeup into a digital-first, cult-favorite brand, leveraging disruptive campaigns and a bold, creative marketing approach. Prior to her role at Milk Makeup, Vahora held senior leadership positions at Shiseido and Rebecca Minkoff, where she successfully launched category-defining products and implemented creative marketing strategies that elevated brand equity and expanded market share.

As CMO of amika, Vahora will oversee all marketing functions, with a focus on amplifying the brand’s unique identity and connection with consumers. Her appointment reflects amika’s commitment to bold, visionary leadership as the brand continues to grow its influence in the beauty industry.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said on Thursday that Amazon sellers would probably respond to President Donald Trump’s tariffs by raising prices for consumers.

“I think they [sellers] will try and pass the cost on,” Jassy told CNBC in an interview.

Trump levied a 10% tariff on all trading partners and an “at least” 145% tariff on China earlier this week that could impact consumer prices. The tariff news has thrown Amazon sellers into a panic because the majority of goods on the platform, up to 70% of products per Wedbush Securities estimates, come from China.

Related: Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Says There’s One Trait That Contributes ‘an Embarrassing Amount’ to Being Successful

While sellers decide whether to raise prices or absorb tariff costs, some Amazon shoppers could be responding to tariffs by stocking up before any price hikes — though Jassy says the short-term nature of shopper data makes it hard to tell if it’s a long-term trend.

“People have not stopped buying, and in certain categories, we do see people buying ahead, but it’s hard to know if it’s just an anomaly in the data because it’s just a few days, or how long it’s going to last,” Jassy told CNBC.

^{Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images}

Amazon’s marketplace consists of roughly 9.7 million sellers that contribute to 60% of sales on the platform. According to Fox Business, more than half of the top sellers on Amazon are based in China.

Jassy told CNBC that Amazon has made some “strategic” inventory buys and is trying to renegotiate terms for some purchase orders in response to tariffs. According to Bloomberg, Amazon canceled orders for beach chairs, scooters, air conditioners, and other products from numerous Amazon sellers in China last week after Trump announced his tariff plan on April 2.

Amazon Is Still Spending on AI

Jassy also released his annual shareholder letter on Thursday, outlining the reasons why Amazon is set to spend $100 billion this year on AI.

According to the letter, Jassy said that AI currently requires a “substantial capital investment,” but will one day “not be as expensive as it is today” as the cost of AI chips goes down.

Related: Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Says Earning Employees’ Trust Takes More Than ‘Being Nice’ — Here’s How He Does It

When I started my first business, I had everything going for me. To be sure, I was terrified, but I was also young and full of grit and determination. Being confident that you’ll succeed is sometimes half the battle — so is having the courage to work hard, and being raised on a farm in Idaho toughened me early. As a child I was entrusted on a daily basis with responsibilities that would daunt many adults.

I also knew my industry. I’d put myself partway through college working for an electric sign company, and now I was founding one of my own. Basically, I convinced myself that these two factors — a diehard work ethic and expertise in the work involved — would carry the day. Don’t get me wrong — they’re vastly important qualities, and no entrepreneur will succeed without them.

But I soon discovered what every new business owner will learn eventually: preparing for every setback is impossible. There will always be a surprise waiting in the wings to steal the spotlight at the worst possible moment.

Related: What Is a Good Credit Score and How Do I Get One?

What I learned the hard way

My business did pretty well out of the gate, so I figured financing would be a cinch. I was wrong. I got turned down for an SBA loan within a month of hanging out my shingle. Adding insult to injury, the idea of receiving good-faith credit from vendors was laughable.

Who was I, after all? The world is full of hard-working kids with big ideas, and you can bet that whatever business you’re in, there will be plenty of established companies that can provide the same service faster and better. With no financing or credit to draw on, I was forced to pay for every expense with precious cash out of my own frequently empty pocket.

When I was an employee of a sign company, cash flow seemed to take care of itself. Being a boss was a whole different story. There was no one to take care of it but me, and finding the cash to pay for every expense on the fly became a nightmare. No matter how well the business did, I stayed cash poor. On any given day, I’d have literally hundreds of thousands of dollars owed to me in accounts receivable, but zero in the bank to pay accounts payable.

I’ll never forget the sleepless nights; the stress headaches; the dark fantasies wherein I was unable to make payroll, unable to pay rent. And this is the chief thing they never tell you: a new business owner can be killing it on paper and still spend his nights pacing the floor.

What I did to fix the problem

The vendors who turned me down didn’t dislike me personally. The SBA didn’t deny my loan application because the government disapproves of Idahoans. My difficulties were owed to one thing and one thing only: I had no credit history. I’d been taught from childhood that debt of any kind is an objective evil, and I’d never applied for so much as a credit card.

I’d paid for all my adolescent needs, including automobiles, in cash. The consequences were beautifully ironic: what I’d once done ignorantly but voluntarily, I was now forced to do. Potential lenders had no way of knowing whether I was the type of client who paid his bills. Credit bureaus had no clue I existed.

My career didn’t take off until I faced this difficulty head-on and took deliberate steps toward building flawless personal and business credit history. It wasn’t easy, but it didn’t take long to realize that achieving good credit scores is more a matter of developing good habits than reinventing the wheel; though reliable information was much harder to come by back then, I hustled and did my homework and eventually mastered the topic.

Related: 5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Credit Score and Help Your Business

In today’s world, no fledgling business owner has an excuse for ignorance about the basic building blocks of finance. The internet is a treasure trove of clear, energetic advice regarding how to improve your credit and reputation simultaneously. Alongside the internet, businesses are devoted to helping business owners understand and access their credit data. It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that in the old days, I’d have cut off a finger to access the wonderful services and tools that most of us now take for granted.

The rewards for capitalizing on such blessings are real. Take a look at some of the advantages of an impressive credit score — tell me they don’t coincide with what you already assume are fundamental steps to fruitful entrepreneurialism:

• Borrowing money: A good credit score can help business owners get loans at a lower interest rate with better terms.
• Trade credit: Trade credit allows business owners to grow their inventory without paying immediately, which is ideal for cash flow.
• Lines of credit: Speaking of cash flow, lines of credit can keep the pipes well-lubricated during the crises, major and minor, that ensure that running a business is never boring.
• Insurance: A solid credit score can mean lower insurance rates and better coverage.
• Lease rates: Similarly, business owners with great credit can get far better lease rates on must-haves like equipment, office space and work vehicles.
• Customers: An impressive credit score is essential for building a business-like reputation. Large companies and government entities require a minimum business credit score to award contracts to smaller enterprises.
• Relationships: Business is all about relationships, and a high credit score will go a long way towards convincing future suppliers and business relationships that you are the real deal.
• Payment processing: Strong business scores mean a better discount rate on merchant processing fees.

The list goes on, and the perks evolve, but the message is as steadfast as if written in stone. Without robust credit scores, a small business will never do any heavy lifting, much less hope to survive in one of the most competitive arenas known to humankind.

A week after announcing that the U.S. would be implementing a sweeping tariff plan worldwide, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday a 90-day pause on tariffs for most countries — except China.

On Truth Social, Trump wrote that over 75 trading partners did not retaliate to the tariffs, and reached out to U.S. representatives to work out a deal. Those countries would gain a 90-day pause.

“I have authorized a 90-day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately,” Trump wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

China, however, is getting an even bigger tariff on its goods — 125%.

“Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World’s Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable.”

The European Union (EU) will also impose retaliatory duties ranging from 10% to 25% on U.S. goods. China has a reciprocal 84% tariff rate on U.S. goods, effective April 10.

What counties are under the tariff pause?

Tariffs on Mexico and Canada will be reduced to 10%.

The White House said it would not release a full list of the 75 countries, per CNBC, but the pause will not affect steel and aluminum tariffs. And because the EU imposed retaliatory tariffs, they are likely not on the list, though that could change.

While announcing the pause, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the universal tariff rate would be brought down to 10%. The Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this was the “strategy all along.”

Earlier in the day, Trump told his followers on Truth Social that everything is going to “work out well.”

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.