LinkedIn Launches New Thinking Game ‘Zip’ with Enhanced User Features

LinkedIn has announced the release of its fifth thinking-oriented game, Zip, marking another addition to its growing collection of games designed to foster connection and engagement among users. Zip is available to play starting today.

The announcement comes nearly a year after LinkedIn Games first launched, and according to the company, user engagement has remained high. “84% of people who play today will play again tomorrow, and 80% will still be playing a week from now,” LinkedIn reported.

LinkedIn states that the games have become “a fun and valuable way to strengthen connections, spark conversations, and encourage friendly competition within professional networks.”

In preparation for the release of Zip, LinkedIn implemented a series of updates to improve the overall gaming experience. These enhancements aim to make gameplay more interactive and accessible, allowing players to better connect through friendly competition.

The new game continues LinkedIn’s efforts to incorporate social interaction into its platform through light, engaging content designed to support professional relationship-building. With Zip, the company builds on the momentum of its previous four game releases, which have been well-received by users worldwide.

Image: LinkedIn

This article, "LinkedIn Launches New Thinking Game ‘Zip’ with Enhanced User Features" was first published on Small Business Trends

IRS Reminds Disaster Victims in 12 States of May 1 Tax Deadline

The Internal Revenue Service issued a reminder Thursday that individuals and businesses in certain disaster-declared areas have until May 1, 2025, to file their 2024 federal income tax returns and make tax payments. The automatic extension applies to taxpayers in parts of twelve states affected by federally declared disasters in 2024.

The IRS emphasized that taxpayers do not need to contact the agency to receive this relief. “If a taxpayer’s address of record is in a disaster area locality, individual and business taxpayers automatically get the extra time without having to ask for it,” the IRS stated.

Who Qualifies for the May 1 Extension?

The May 1 deadline applies to:

• All residents and businesses in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
• The City and Borough of Juneau in Alaska.
• Chaves County in New Mexico.
• Multiple counties in Tennessee including Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington.
• Dozens of counties and independent cities across Virginia, including Albemarle, Appomattox, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Bristol City, Buchanan, Buckingham, Carroll, Charlotte, Covington City, Craig, Danville City, Dickenson, Floyd, Galax City, Giles, Grayson, Greene, Lee, Madison, Montgomery, Nelson, Norton City, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Radford City, Roanoke City, Roanoke, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe.

A full list of eligible localities is available on the IRS website’s Tax Relief in Disaster Situations page.

Requesting Additional Filing Extensions

Taxpayers who require more time beyond May 1, 2025, may request an extension, but it only applies to filing—not payment. The IRS urges taxpayers to request electronic extensions by April 15, 2025. For those in disaster areas needing extensions between April 15 and May 1, requests must be submitted on paper using Form 4868.

Regardless of how it’s filed, the extension gives taxpayers until Oct. 15, 2025, to submit their returns. However, all payments are still due by May 1, 2025. Additional details are available at IRS.gov/extensions.

Fall Deadlines for Other Disaster Areas

The IRS noted that some disaster area taxpayers face different deadlines later this year. These include:

• Oct. 15, 2025, for taxpayers in Los Angeles County, California, due to January wildfires.
• Nov. 3, 2025, for all of Kentucky and specific counties in West Virginia: Boone, Greenbrier, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne, and Wyoming.

Special Relief for Taxpayers Affected by Attacks in Israel

Taxpayers living or conducting business in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, or those otherwise affected by the terrorist attacks beginning October 7, 2023, also qualify for tax relief. These individuals and entities have until Sept. 30, 2025, to file and pay federal taxes.

What Returns and Payments Are Covered?

The relief covers various filings and payments, including:

• Calendar year 2024 partnership and S Corporation returns (originally due March 17).
• 2024 individual income tax returns and quarterly estimated payments (normally due April 15).
• Calendar year 2024 corporate and fiduciary income tax returns (also due April 15).
• Additional returns, payments, and time-sensitive tax-related actions as outlined on the IRS Disaster Assistance page.

Automatic Relief and Additional Support

“The IRS automatically provides filing and penalty relief to any taxpayer with an IRS address of record located in the disaster area,” the agency noted. However, those who receive a penalty notice for a due date within the postponement period should contact the number on the notice to have penalties removed.

The IRS also offers support for taxpayers whose necessary records are located in the affected disaster area, even if they live elsewhere. This includes aid workers affiliated with recognized government or philanthropic organizations. Affected taxpayers outside of the declared areas can call 866-562-5227 for assistance.

Additionally, individuals and businesses who suffered uninsured or unreimbursed disaster-related losses may choose to claim them on the return for the year the loss occurred or the previous year. More information is available in IRS Publication 547, Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts.

This article, "IRS Reminds Disaster Victims in 12 States of May 1 Tax Deadline" was first published on Small Business Trends

New Survey Highlights How Americans Are Embracing AI-Powered Search

Artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing how U.S. consumers search and shop online, according to a new survey released by adMarketplace. The company surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults using a census-balanced sample by age and gender to gauge perceptions and adoption of AI-driven search experiences. The results highlight significant trends for advertisers and publishers as AI becomes more integrated into native search environments.

The findings show that 45% of Americans have used AI-powered search tools, including chat-based engines and AI-driven results. That figure nearly doubles the 27% who report not having tried these tools. Meanwhile, 17% of respondents said they rely more on AI search than traditional methods.

According to adMarketplace, the growth in adoption is fueled primarily by the relevancy and convenience AI delivers. A quarter of respondents cited accurate, relevant results and ease of use as the most compelling reasons to adopt AI-powered search while shopping online.

AI’s integration into native search environments—within apps, websites, and platforms—was emphasized as a key factor in providing a more seamless and personalized shopping journey. The survey indicates that 69% of Americans have interacted with AI-generated prompts and search results, and 53% fall between somewhat likely and very likely to continue doing so.

Personalization emerged as the most valued feature among AI-driven capabilities. Twenty-seven percent of consumers said personalized results based on their inputs were the most important feature of AI-powered search. Other useful features included enhanced shopping experiences and real-time suggestions based on user intent.

The survey also found that AI is already becoming a digital personal shopper for many consumers. Forty-seven percent of respondents reported using AI tools during their online shopping journey, with a quarter of those using them frequently. These results mirror findings from other industry reports, such as one from Adobe, which observed a 1,200% increase in generative AI traffic to retail websites between July 2024 and February 2025.

Despite the growth, adMarketplace notes that generative AI still trails behind channels like paid search in overall traffic. A key insight from the survey shows the gap in AI tool usage, with 47% reporting usage and 40% saying they have not used these tools in their shopping journey.

Demographic data reveals that younger consumers—specifically Millennials and Gen Z—are more open to using AI-powered search compared to Gen X and Baby Boomers. Men, in particular, show greater interest than women across several metrics:

• 30% of men interact with AI-generated results versus 20% of women
• 30% of men value ease of use versus 21% of women
• 20% of men rely more on AI-powered search compared to 14% of women

Still, skepticism remains. About 1 in 5 Americans surveyed expressed no interest in using AI for search or shopping, indicating a level of mistrust or lack of perceived value in the technology. This segment may require more targeted communication to demonstrate the benefits of AI-powered solutions.

As AI continues to evolve, the survey suggests a growing, though uneven, acceptance of AI in search behavior. adMarketplace concludes that advertisers and publishers have an opportunity to harness this shift by embedding AI into their native search experiences and clearly demonstrating how it enhances relevance, engagement, and personalized results.

Image: Envato

This article, "New Survey Highlights How Americans Are Embracing AI-Powered Search" was first published on Small Business Trends

Gas Prices Climb Nationwide, Driven by Refinery Maintenance and Seasonal Factors

The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped more than 10 cents over the past week, reaching $3.26, according to AAA. This marks the first time since September that prices have hit this level, reflecting typical seasonal shifts. Despite the increase, prices remain below last year’s national average of $3.54 for the same period.

AAA attributes the rise to several contributing factors, including ongoing refinery maintenance and the transition to more expensive summer-blend gasoline. One month ago, the national average stood at $3.09.

Supply and Demand Trends

Data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows a decrease in gasoline demand, falling from 8.64 million barrels per day to 8.49 million barrels per day over the past week. During the same period, total domestic gasoline supply dropped from 239.1 million barrels to 237.6 million barrels. However, gasoline production rose, averaging 9.3 million barrels per day.

On the crude oil side, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose by 51 cents at the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, settling at $71.71 per barrel. The EIA reported a 6.2 million barrel increase in crude oil inventories from the previous week, bringing the total to 439.8 million barrels. Despite the increase, inventories are still about 4% below the five-year average for this time of year.

EV Charging Costs Hold Steady

For electric vehicle owners, the national average cost per kilowatt hour of electricity at public EV charging stations remained unchanged from the previous week at 34 cents.

State-by-State Price Comparisons

California remains the most expensive market for gasoline, with an average price of $4.91 per gallon, followed by Hawaii ($4.52), Washington ($4.30), Nevada ($3.99), and Oregon ($3.93). Rounding out the top ten are Alaska ($3.53), Illinois ($3.52), Arizona ($3.42), Idaho ($3.38), and Pennsylvania ($3.37).

The least expensive markets for gasoline are Mississippi ($2.74), Tennessee ($2.80), Oklahoma ($2.81), Louisiana ($2.82), and Alabama ($2.85). Also among the lowest are Texas, Arkansas, and Kansas (each at $2.87), South Carolina ($2.87), and Kentucky ($2.89).

In terms of EV charging, Hawaii continues to lead with the highest average cost at 56 cents per kilowatt hour, followed by West Virginia (46 cents), Montana (44 cents), Tennessee (42 cents), and South Carolina (42 cents). Other high-cost states include Idaho, Alaska, Kentucky, Louisiana, and New Hampshire, all ranging between 40 and 42 cents.

The states with the lowest EV charging rates are Kansas (22 cents), Missouri (25 cents), Iowa and North Dakota (26 cents each), and Nebraska and Delaware (27 cents each). Texas, Washington, DC, Utah, and Maryland all report an average of 30 cents per kilowatt hour.

This article, "Gas Prices Climb Nationwide, Driven by Refinery Maintenance and Seasonal Factors" was first published on Small Business Trends

Nimble Launches Email Marketing and Template Editor to Support Scalable Campaigns

Nimble, a CRM platform tailored to small businesses and marketing professionals, has introduced its new Email Marketing feature, enabling users to conduct large-scale, HTML-powered, and trackable email campaigns directly from within the platform. The feature, announced on April 3, 2025, is designed to support outreach efforts such as newsletters, webinars, and promotional messages.

According to Nimble, the new capability helps users bypass the limitations of email platforms like Google and Microsoft, which typically restrict daily sends to around 500 emails per user. The Email Marketing feature allows users to send unlimited emails to segmented lists and manage campaigns reaching tens of thousands of recipients.

“Nimble has always been about helping people build stronger relationships at scale. With the addition of Email Marketing, we’re expanding our capabilities to meet the growing needs of businesses looking to engage their audiences with both small-scale outreach and enterprise-level marketing campaigns,” said Jon Ferrara, CEO of Nimble.

The release also introduces a Template Editor that enables users to choose from a library of pre-designed layouts or create customized emails using drag-and-drop tools. The editor is intended to simplify the design process for professional-grade communications.

“From lead capture to large-scale campaigns, Nimble now provides an all-in-one platform for sales and marketing teams to collaborate and grow,” added Ferrara. “With Nimble Email Marketing, our customers can now scale their outreach and strengthen relationships like never before.”

Key Features

The new Email Marketing feature includes several integrated tools and benefits:

• Unlimited Sends: No cap on the number of emails sent, ideal for ongoing promotions and announcements.
• Powerful Template Editor: Includes customizable, drag-and-drop email templates.
• Integrated Automation: Connects with Nimble Web Forms and automation workflows for streamlined engagement.
• Sequenced Outreach: Works with Nimble Sequences to nurture leads through drip campaigns.
• Real-Time Analytics: Provides open and click-rate data to optimize campaign effectiveness.
• Cost-Effective Pricing: Charges users only for emails sent, avoiding fees for inactive contacts.
• Unified Communication View: Stores all communications in a single contact record, eliminating the need for database syncing.

Nimble views the launch as a major step toward enhancing its marketing offerings. Future plans include adding communication channels such as text messaging, voice, and chat to enable end-to-end customer engagement.

The Email Marketing feature and Template Editor are now available as a paid add-on, priced at $15 per company per month. More details and trial access are available at www.nimble.com.

This article, "Nimble Launches Email Marketing and Template Editor to Support Scalable Campaigns" was first published on Small Business Trends

Remote Work Gains Ground Despite Return-to-Office Push, Study Finds

A new study by Flatworld Solutions shows that remote work in the United States continues to gain momentum in 2025, even as some major companies reinstate return-to-office (RTO) mandates. The research, which analyzed telework trends across demographics, industries, and regions between 2022 and 2025, paints a complex picture of an evolving workforce adapting to the opportunities and challenges of distributed work.

According to the report, overall telework adoption increased from 19.9% in October 2022 to 23.6% in January 2025, an 18.6% rise. As of early 2025, 12.5% of American workers were teleworking some hours, while 11.1% worked remotely full-time. Interest in remote work has also surged among the public, with Google search interest for the term rising 134% since 2020.

“The exponential jump in remote work adoption reflects more than just a temporary shift—it signals a fundamental redefinition of workplace digital transformation,” said Israel Paul, head of human resources at Flatworld Solutions. “At Flatworld Solutions, we see technology not merely as an enabler, but as a strategic asset that fuels innovative workforce models.”

Regional and Demographic Variations

The study highlights significant disparities in telework adoption across the U.S. The District of Columbia leads with a 56.5% adoption rate, while Mississippi lags behind at just 4.7%. Other states with high remote work rates include Colorado (31.7%), Massachusetts (29.4%), and Washington (28.5%).

Age and gender also play a role in remote work trends. Workers aged 35-44 lead with a 28.1% average telework rate, while those 65 and older experienced the largest growth—54.6% among men in that age group. In contrast, the 16-19 demographic showed the lowest adoption at 2.7%.

“Distinct demographic and occupational trends in telework are reshaping how organizations plan their talent strategies,” Paul noted. “For instance, significant growth among older workers underscores the critical role of adaptable work environments powered by data-driven insights.”

Occupational and Industry Trends

Remote work remains more prevalent in certain occupations. The study shows that computer and mathematical jobs lead in telework rates at 69.9%, followed by business and financial operations (59.2%) and legal roles (52.6%). Media, arts, design, and entertainment roles also saw strong adoption at 46.5%.

In terms of industries, professional and technical services top the chart with a 56.3% adoption rate, with finance and insurance not far behind at 61.7%. The financial activities and information sectors also reported high adoption levels, at 55.4% and 49.7%, respectively.

The Rise of Global Capability Centers

The emergence of Global Capability Centers (GCCs) is highlighted as a major trend shaping remote work. These virtual and offshore hubs allow multinational firms to scale distributed teams and tap into global talent pools. Google Trends data supports this shift, with search interest in capability centers climbing from near zero in 2020 to a peak of 100 in January 2025.

“This transformation represents not just a response to immediate remote work needs but a strategic shift in how companies structure their IT and software service delivery for long-term resilience and competitive advantage,” Paul said.

Return-to-Office and Its Challenges

Despite the rise in remote work, some large corporations are pushing for full-time office returns. Amazon, AT&T, and JPMorgan have all announced five-day in-office workweeks for 2025. However, these policies are not without issues. The study found that 42% of companies enforcing RTO mandates experienced higher-than-expected employee attrition, while 29% faced recruitment challenges. About 23% of companies plan to introduce RTO policies by the end of the year, and 7% will delay implementation until 2026 or later.

Security Concerns in the Remote Era

With the expansion of remote work, job-related scams have surged. Losses due to fraudulent job postings and gamified task scams have more than tripled since 2020, reaching over $220 million in reported losses in the first half of 2024.

“With the alarming rise in job scams targeting remote workers and the pushback we’re seeing with office returns, it’s clear that protecting our workforce while maintaining productivity is a delicate balance,” Paul said. “Success in this new era isn’t just about having the right technology—it’s about understanding and supporting the people using it.”

Methodology

The study draws on datasets from BLS monthly surveys, Google Trends, and supplementary sources tracking telework patterns across regions, age groups, and occupations from 2022 to early 2025. It focuses on growth rates, regional disparities, and emerging concerns like remote work vulnerabilities and workforce resilience.

Image: Envato

This article, "Remote Work Gains Ground Despite Return-to-Office Push, Study Finds" was first published on Small Business Trends

Instacart Launches Will Call Delivery to Solve Supply Chain Disruptions for Foodservice Industry

Instacart has announced the launch of Will Call Delivery, a new solution designed to address urgent same-day supply needs for foodservice distributors and their business customers. The offering aims to mitigate common challenges such as delayed truck dispatches, warehouse fulfillment issues, and the growing expectation for rapid delivery in the hospitality and food retail sectors.

Will Call Delivery is part of Instacart Business, which launched in 2022. The new service allows distributors to provide fast, same-day “fill-in” or “hot shot” deliveries using Instacart’s network of trained shoppers. By integrating directly into distributors’ existing communication workflows, Will Call Delivery enables sales representatives to initiate orders quickly—allowing them to request a shopper to pick up items from a warehouse and deliver them directly to customers.

“For more than a decade, Instacart has built its reputation on delivering grocery orders to households nationwide in as fast as an hour,” the company stated. “With Will Call Delivery, we’re bringing that expertise to distributors and business operators in need of rapid fulfillment, offering a seamless, same-day solution for the most urgent supply needs.”

The Will Call Delivery system is a white-label application that enables reps to order via text or call, maintaining the workflow they’re accustomed to. If an item is out of stock or the customer is located far from a warehouse, distributors can also place orders from retailers on the Instacart Marketplace to fulfill the need.

Instacart emphasizes food safety as a core feature of the service. All shoppers are trained through educational modules covering food safety standards, including hygiene practices, cross-contamination prevention, and safe transportation of temperature-controlled foods.

The company has been piloting Will Call Delivery with Gordon Food Service, one of the leading foodservice distributors in the U.S. Feedback from the pilot has been positive. “Our pilot with Instacart is allowing us to test ways to advance our customer-first approach and best-in-class service. We understand that our customers are changing, and this pilot is allowing us to find ways to address their urgent and varied needs, and augment our traditional models of serving our customers. To date, we’ve gained valuable insights from this model and it’s making us think differently,” said Joe Mott, Regional General Manager of Gordon Food Service.

Chef Tucker of Blackfinn Ameripub also praised the service, saying, “It has been extremely helpful to me and my staff when needing product in a timing manner. We love the ease of having items delivered with the rush of day to day kitchen operations.”

Instacart plans to expand Will Call Delivery to additional distributor partners throughout 2025, aiming to scale the solution nationwide. According to the company, the service allows distributors to reduce operational strain and deliver better customer service, while helping end businesses—from restaurants to healthcare facilities—remain fully stocked during critical moments.

Distributors interested in integrating Will Call Delivery can reach out to Instacart at business@instacart.com for more information.

Image: Instacart

This article, "Instacart Launches Will Call Delivery to Solve Supply Chain Disruptions for Foodservice Industry" was first published on Small Business Trends