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Cut costs and make your life a little nicer. By Sandi Leyva The Complete Guide to Marketing for Tax & Accounting Firms Go PRO for members-only access to more Sandi Smith Leyva. View the full article

Cut costs and make your life a little nicer. By Sandi Leyva The Complete Guide to Marketing for Tax & Accounting Firms Go PRO for members-only access to more Sandi Smith Leyva. View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “In accounting, our impact on businesses, lives and futures is substantial.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Today's Bissett Bullet: “In accounting, our impact on businesses, lives and futures is substantial.” By Martin Bissett See more Bissett Bullets here Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Former Kingfisher boss vying for key internet and broadcast regulation role with politicians Margaret Hodge and Jeremy WrightView the full article

Oracle has unveiled a groundbreaking advancement that promises to reshape how small businesses manage their operations. The introduction of Fusion Agentic Applications signals a shift from traditional enterprise software, enabling small business owners to harness the power of specialized AI agents for more efficient and effective management solutions. The new set of applications, integrated within Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications, is designed to execute decision-making processes in real time. This level of automation doesn’t just streamline operations; it transforms the way businesses achieve their objectives. “The way work gets done no longer matches the speed, complexity, or expectations of modern business,” explained Steve Miranda, Oracle’s executive vice president of Applications Development. He emphasized that these applications allow for proactive action rather than reactive management, freeing up valuable time for strategic initiatives. Key Benefits for Small Businesses Fusion Agentic Applications offer several notable advantages tailored for small business needs: Outcome-Driven Execution: The applications focus on defined business goals and continuously push work forward. This not only enhances productivity but ensures alignment with overarching business objectives. Shared Context: Small businesses often juggle multiple tasks and information sources. These applications maintain a persistent context, remembering past decisions and current challenges. This significantly reduces the time employees spend trying to reconstruct context in ongoing tasks. Continuous Reasoning: These applications are designed to adjust on the fly, evaluating situational nuances and making decisions that drive work toward objectives. This constant reevaluation ensures that small businesses can keep pace with changing conditions, avoiding stalls in processes. Enterprise-Grade Governance: Security and oversight are crucial for small businesses, especially in sensitive areas like finance and HR. The Fusion Agentic Applications operate within Oracle’s established security framework, providing reliable governance and auditability. Practical Applications for Small Business Leaders With 22 new applications now available, small business leaders can tap into specialized tools to drive better results: Workforce Operations Agentic Application: Simplifies HR tasks by streamlining scheduling and payroll processes, enabling HR managers to shift from a reactive to a proactive approach. Design-to-Source Workspace Agentic Application: Helps streamline supply chain processes by coordinating decision-making across various functions, leading to reduced costs and quicker product cycles. Cross-Sell Program Workspace Agentic Application: This can help sales teams identify growth opportunities. The application aims to enhance revenue while reducing customer acquisition costs. Collectors Workspace Agentic Application: Focuses on accelerating cash collection, minimizing delays, and improving cash flow management. This is crucial for maintaining healthy working capital. By deploying these applications, small business owners can reclaim valuable time and resources, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives rather than getting bogged down in operational details. Potential Challenges on the Horizon While the benefits are significant, small business owners should also consider a few challenges: Integration with Existing Systems: Transitioning to the new applications may require adjustments to existing workflows. Owners need to ensure that their teams are trained and ready to use the new tools optimally. Cost Considerations: Adopting sophisticated AI-driven applications can come with upfront costs. Small business leaders should evaluate the potential return on investment and seek scalable options that suit their budget. Trusting AI Decisions: As businesses incorporate AI into decision-making, ensuring that human judgment remains integral will be essential. Systems should provide avenues for oversight where significant decisions are concerned. Industry experts have noted the importance of integrating AI deeply into existing systems. “Oracle’s approach with Fusion Agentic Applications is notable because the agents operate inside the application suite itself, with native access to data,” said Michael Fauscette, CEO and chief analyst of Arion Research. This integration is seen as a crucial differentiator for small businesses looking to leverage AI for operational efficiency. The introduction of Oracle Fusion Agentic Applications represents a significant advancement for small businesses seeking to enhance their operational workflows. By streamlining processes and improving governance, these applications offer small business owners the tools needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment. As the landscape of enterprise software evolves, embracing these innovations may very well be the key to staying ahead. To learn more about Oracle Fusion Applications, visit www.oracle.com/applications. For further details about the Fusion Agentic Applications, check out the original press release here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Oracle Unveils Fusion Agentic Applications to Transform Enterprise Workflows" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Over the past few years, the Chinese-made Boox Palma e-reader has gained a cult following in the U.S. for its phone-like form factor, Android compatibility, and less-addictive grayscale screen—I've personally credited it with helping me spend more time reading and less time scrolling on my iPhone. But as much as I love it, I do still always need to carry my phone with me, because the Palma—even the newer Palma 2 Pro with mobile data—just isn't a good match for many of the tasks I use my phone for, including navigation and tap-to-pay. Soon, though, there may be a dual-purpose device that will serve both masters. Bigme, another Chinese tech company best known for its e-ink devices like e-readers and digital notebooks, has announced plans to produce a smartphone with two displays—an LCD screen on one side, and a color e-ink screen on the other. The "world's first" color e-ink/LCD smartphoneThis new phone doesn't yet have a price tag or a release date, but it does have a placeholder product page on the Bigme website, which promises the "Hibreak Dual" will be the "world's first color e-ink + LCD = dual-screen smartphone." The company has also posted cryptic comments on Reddit, encouraging you to "reserve your front-row seat" by signing up for more information about the device when it becomes available. While the tech sounds intriguing, I have some reservations. It's true that Bigme has a track record with e-ink smartphones—it has made a few of them, including the Hibreak Pro, which is generally recognized as the best e-ink smartphone in a (very) niche market. But I've tried it, and it has the same problem that plagues Bigme's e-readers: absolutely horrendous software. I imagine the "Hibreak Dual" will use a similar OS, with the added technical hurdle that it will have to be optimized for two display formats. So my interest is piqued, but I'm skeptical the user experience will be good enough to actually make me consider ditching iOS. Though there are no indication of what it might cost, the Hibreak Dual is likely to be on par with the entry level iPhone 17e at the very least—the existing Hibreak Pro costs between $400 and $430, depending on the model and the current promotions Bigme is offering. Bigme HiBreak Pro $386.00 at Amazon $439.00 Save $53.00 Get Deal Get Deal $386.00 at Amazon $439.00 Save $53.00 Not truly the first dual-screen deviceWhile Bigme may be technically correct that the Hibreak Dual would be the first phone with both an LCD screen and color e-ink, it's not quite the innovation it seems: Yota, a now-defunct Russian mobile phone manufacturer, debuted the "Yotaphone" way back in 2012. That device had a 4.2-inch LCD screen on the front and a black-and-white e-ink display on the back. Though a few different models were introduced over the years, it was never widely available internationally, however, and Yota went out of business in 2019. View the full article

There’s a flood coming. A downpour of noise — more content, more channels, more AI-generated everything, moving faster than most teams can keep up with. Somewhere in that volume, your customers are quietly drowning — overwhelmed, underserved, and one bad experience away from choosing someone else. You’ve probably felt it on your team, too. Another tool. Another sprint. Another quarter of doing more with less. The productivity metrics look fine from the outside. But inside, people are running on empty. There’s an old story about a man named Noah who, facing catastrophic disruption, didn’t freeze or panic. He didn’t look for shortcuts or try to outswim the storm. He built — with intention, with a clear design, and with people he trusted. When the waters rose, the ark held. The brands that lead don’t adopt the most technology the fastest. They build with intention — designing systems and experiences that protect people. What follows is the case for building your ark — and a practical framework to do it. The hidden emotional tax nobody is measuring Customer-obsessed organizations achieved 49% faster profit growth and 51% better customer retention rates than their peers, according to Forrester. The gap between what customers need emotionally and what brands deliver comes down to design. The strain isn’t only on the customer side. AI power users report that it makes their overwhelming workload more manageable (92%), boosts creativity (92%), and helps them focus on their most important work (93%), per Microsoft and LinkedIn’s Work Trend Index,. Yet, 60% of leaders say their company lacks a concrete AI vision or plan — meaning the very tool that could relieve team burnout is sitting underutilized. That gap shows up in real ways. For customers, it creates friction — too many choices, unclear navigation, and messaging that misses where they are. They arrive with a question and leave with more confusion. They don’t feel seen or helped. For marketing teams, the impact is quieter but just as serious: Decision fatigue disguised as strategy. Tool overload framed as innovation. Burnout that looks like productivity — until it doesn’t. Fragmented workflows that drain energy faster than they produce results. Brands that recognize these human issues move faster, retain stronger talent, build deeper customer loyalty, and drive better business outcomes. Enter what I call the wellness sweet spot. Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with Where AI, empathy, and design come together The wellness sweet spot is the moment where AI, empathy, and human-first design converge — creating conditions where both your customers and your team can think clearly, act confidently, and trust the experience they’re in. It’s an architectural decision about how your entire marketing ecosystem is designed to make people feel. When its three pillars are genuinely working together, four things become true simultaneously: AI reduces waste and cognitive load in the experience — making things simpler. Emotional friction is intentionally minimized at every touchpoint. Marketing teams operate from a foundation of wellness (and well-being). Systems and workflows support human thriving, not just throughput. When these conditions are in place, something shifts. AI stops feeling like a disruption and starts working as a stabilizing layer — supporting, protecting, and quietly holding the system together. It manages the overwhelm. The ark keeps floating. Dig deeper: How to avoid decision fatigue in SEO AI as an invisible wellness layer Most marketing leaders still think about AI in terms of what it does — automate, generate, optimize, analyze. Those outcomes matter, but they don’t tell the full story. The more consequential question is how AI makes people feel while it’s doing those things. For customers, AI used well is a guide that: Summarizes complexity without dumbing it down. Narrows choices in ways that feel helpful rather than manipulative. Anticipates what someone needs next and removes ambiguity from decision paths. Saves time — which is, in a very real sense, saving emotional energy. For teams, thoughtfully deployed AI absorbs the work that depletes people most: the repetitive, the reactive, and the administrative. It creates space for what human brains do best: strategy, creativity, relationship-building, and nuanced judgment. When you build your marketing systems around it, the output quality goes up because the people producing it aren’t running on fumes. This is empathy at scale. Not the kind that lives in a tagline, but the kind that’s baked into how your systems are structured and how your content is designed to reach people. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. The new emotional metrics: What to measure when you start caring about feelings This is where things get practical and start to move ahead of the curve. Most marketing dashboards show what happened — click-through rates, conversion rates, and time on page. Those metrics matter, but they don’t explain why someone left or how they felt along the way. Emotional metrics help fill that gap by focusing on the conditions under which decisions are made. Research in psychology and neuroscience shows that people make better decisions, build stronger brand relationships, and become more loyal when they feel clear, confident, and calm. Here’s how traditional metrics map to emotional KPIs: Traditional metricEmotional KPIWhat it measures, reimaginedTime on pageClarity indexHow quickly someone finds what they need — without confusionConversion rateDecision effort scoreCognitive load required to complete an actionEngagement rateCustomer calm markersBehavioral signals of confidence, not stress (Qualified attention)Team output volumeWellness throughputStrategic output produced with reduced burnout These are upstream indicators that help explain downstream performance. A low clarity index often shows up as stalled conversion rates. A high decision effort score can lead to rising cart abandonment. Declining wellness throughput tends to result in average output from top strategists. Brands that start tracking these now gain an advantage over those that wait to react. 5 steps to design toward your wellness sweet spot A caution before the roadmap: more speed and scale applied to a broken system will not fix it. It will amplify everything that’s wrong with it. These five steps are meant to be done before you push harder on AI adoption. Step 1: Run an empathy audit Where are customers confused? Hesitating? Leaving? Map these moments using behavioral data combined with qualitative insight — customer interviews, session recordings, support tickets, search data. Focus less on what people clicked and more on where they felt lost. Step 2: Simplify for cognitive ease Fewer choices. Plain language. Cleaner navigation. Every step you remove from a decision path is a small act of respect for your customer’s mental energy. This is generous. It’s designing with intelligence. Step 3: Use AI as a shepherd Deploy AI to enhance orientation, clarity, and confidence. Don’t push aggressive automation or manufacture a sense of urgency. AI should make customers feel helped, not herded. There’s a difference, and your audience feels it. Step 4: Rebuild team workflows around energy Audit where your team’s cognitive energy actually goes each week. Identify the work that is routine, reactive, or repetitive — and build AI into those gaps first. Protect the hours that require human judgment, creativity, and relationship-building. Those are the hours that drive real growth. Step 5: Measure the feels Begin tracking emotional outcomes alongside performance metrics. Start simple: add a one-question post-interaction survey. Review search data for confusion signals. For example, growing volume for “how do I” or “why can’t I” phrases on your own site may indicate your content isn’t answering questions before they’re asked. Monitor support ticket themes for friction patterns. A perfect measurement system isn’t required to start. The intention to look is. Dig deeper: The secret to work-life harmony in SEO: Setting boundaries See the complete picture of your search visibility. Track, optimize, and win in Google and AI search from one platform. Start Free Trial Get started with The future belongs to emotionally intelligent brands In a market where nearly every brand claims to be customer-centric and frictionless, the real differentiator comes down to how people feel and whether systems consistently deliver on that promise. Leading organizations don’t rely on bigger AI budgets. They align technology with clear intent, prioritize well-timed, empathy-led content over volume, treat customer well-being as part of the brand promise, and protect their teams’ energy as rigorously as performance. Creating value starts with protecting the people who create it. Noah didn’t survive the flood by ignoring it or fearing it. He paid attention, took action, and built with intention — something designed to carry what mattered most: his people, his purpose, his peace, and his future. That’s the kind of leadership this moment calls for. You don’t have to figure this out alone. The tools are here. The framework is yours. The decision is whether to build before the pressure hits or react once it’s already underway. View the full article

It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I am looking for advice on managing ADHD at work, but the caveat is that I’m still nursing a baby, so most medication is off the table and when I do stop (hopefully soon – he’s over a year old and I’m actively working on weaning), I know it may take me months to find something that works. So I am really looking for non-medication strategies in the meantime. I recently got diagnosed with ADHD (in my late thirties) after having my second child and going off the executive functioning cliff deep end (thanks, hormones!). I’ve always had symptoms and have nearly always managed okay enough, but after coming back to work post-baby I would just spend hours in front of the computer and get absolutely nothing done. Cue the diagnosis. It’s been an eye-opener and such a relief, and I’m working through years of internalized shame, obsession with perfectionism, and anxiety. I did initially get on some rapid-release Adderall, taken just for work as needed (the only thing I can take while still nursing, since it gets out of my system fast enough between feedings). It was an absolute miracle at first, lifting my mood and getting me to concentrate seamlessly. And then a couple of months ago, it just stopped working, and if anything made things worse. So now here I am typing this out at noon, on double my original dose, having not even opened my work the whole morning. I’ve tried blocking websites, but then I find workarounds. Trello used to work, and just doesn’t. I’ve given up on zero-inbox. I find myself either deep-diving into the task and hyper-focused for hours (sometimes the right task, and sometimes not), missing appointments and calls, or jumping from one irrelevant thing to another like some squirrel on steroids. My kids and I have lots of medical appointments, and missing them is a big deal and not something I’ve ever done before in my life, so I’m absolutely reeling from missing three (out of about 10) in the past two weeks. And I know I’m coming off as kind of manic during phone calls and emails. (My contact recently called an email to a colleague “unnecessarily dramatic”… and it was! I’m a very high-functioning professional at a world-class organization. What am I doing?!) My work situation doesn’t help. I’m a contractor, working from home half-time, with most of my contacts six hours ahead of me in Europe. I love, love, love my field and my job; it’s truly meaningful, full of passionate and incredible people, prestigious, and pays well enough. I need the flexible, limited hours to manage my health. However, I am working solo the vast majority of the time and I am the one in charge of driving the timeline for the project and getting other people to get things to me, and … so when I drop the ball, there is no one to prod me on it until something falls behind spectacularly. I’m currently primarily working on a non-urgent, least-liked task (writing an academic paper), and I’ve gotten maybe 10 hours of work done in the past two weeks total, when I should be averaging about 20 per week. If I damage my reputation with this organization – through dramatic emails, late work, poor quality, or otherwise being difficult – I will never get another contract with them and I’m unlikely to get another opportunity even close to this good. Our field has been decimated by the recent The President funding cuts, and jobs are scarce and competition is unbelievably intense. I’m worried it’s already happening, as I wasn’t invited to join another project that I really would’ve been a natural fit for, and I think the contracts will stop coming once my current multi-year project comes to an end sometime this year. The readers have always been so kind and full of information and strategies, so I’m really hoping someone has been in my shoes and people can recommend things to try, so I can throw them all at the wall and see what sticks. I actually would also love to hear about experiences with medications, especially on what worked if rapid-release Adderall stopped helping. Readers with firsthand experience, what’s your advice? The post managing ADHD at work when you can’t use medication appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Artificial intelligence-generated content is everywhere these days, making it increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction, particularly when it comes to breaking news. Look no further than the Iran war. Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, researchers have identified an unprecedented number of false and misleading images that were generated using artificial intelligence and have reached countless people around the world. Among them, fake footage of bombings that never happened, images of soldiers who were supposedly captured and propaganda videos created by Iran that depict President Donald The President and others as blocky, Lego-like miniatures. Thursday, the 10th annual International Fact-Checking Day, provides a good opportunity to look at these evolving challenges. Misinformation created with AI is being shared with unprecedented speed from an endless number of sources. From the outset of the Iran war, accounts from all sides of the conflict promoted such content. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue, which tracks disinformation and online extremism, has been examining social media posts around the Iran war. Among their findings was a group of X accounts that regularly post AI-generated content and collectively gained more than 1 billion views since the conflict began. This was done by roughly two dozen accounts, many of which had blue check verification. Here are some tips for distinguishing AI-generated content from reality in an online world where that continues to get harder. Look for visual cues When AI-generated images first began spreading widely online, there were often obvious tells that could identify them as fabricated. Perhaps a person had too few — or too many — fingers or their voice was out of sync with their mouth. Text may have been nonsensical. Objects were frequently distorted or missing key components. As the technology continues to evolve, these clues aren’t as common as they once were, but it’s still worth looking for them. Watch for inconsistencies such as a car that is in a video one moment and gone the next or actions that aren’t possible according to the laws of physics. Some images may also be overly polished or have an unnatural sheen. Seek out a source AI-generated images get shared over and over again. One way to determine their authenticity (or lack thereof) is to hunt for their origin. Using a reverse image search is a simple way to do this. If you’re looking at a video, take a screenshot first. This can lead to a social media account that specifically generates AI content, an older image that is being misrepresented, or something entirely unexpected. Listen to the experts Look for multiple verified sources that can help authenticate the image. For example, that can mean a fact-check from a reputable media outlet, a statement from a public figure, or a social media post from a misinformation expert. These sources may have more advanced techniques for identifying AI-generated content or access to information about the image that is not accessible by the general public. Make use of technology There are many AI detection tools that can be a helpful place to start. But be wary, as they are not always correct in their assessments. Images that have been generated or altered with AI using Google’s Gemini app include an invisible digital watermarking tool called SynthID, which the app can detect. Other AI creation tools have added visible watermarks to content they generate. They are often easy to remove though, meaning the absence of such a watermark is not proof that an image is genuine. Slow down Sometimes it’s just about going back to basics. Stop, take a breath and don’t immediately share something you don’t know is real. Bad actors are often counting on the fact that people let their emotions and existing viewpoints guide their reactions to content. Looking at the comments may provide clues about whether the image you’re looking at is real or not. Another user might have noticed something you didn’t or been able to find the original source. Ultimately though, it’s not always possible to determine with 100% accuracy whether an image is AI-generated so remain alert to the possibility it might not be real. See something that looks false or misleading? Email us at FactCheck@ap.org. Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck. —Melissa Goldin And Barbara Whitaker, Associated Press View the full article

IDEAS shared have the power to expand perspectives, change thinking, and move lives. Here are two ideas for the curious mind to engage with: I. Frank Barrett on Provocative Competence: “Leadership as design activity means creating space, sufficient support, and challenge so that people will be tempted to grow on their own. The goal is the opposite of conformity: a leader’s job is to create the discrepancy and dissonance that trigger people to move away from habitual positions and repetitive patterns. I’ve come to think of this key leadership capacity as ‘provocative competence.’” Source: Yes to the Mess: Surprising Leadership Lessons from Jazz II. Jeff Brown and Mark Fenske on self-awareness: “Developing your sense of Self-Awareness not only helps you gauge how you are likely to react in a given situation, but it can also provide some in-sight into the people around you. Having a stable sense of self can therefore ground you in situations when many other circumstances are beyond your immediate control.” Source: The Winner's Brain: 8 Strategies Great Minds Use to Achieve Success * * * Look for these ideas every Thursday on the Leading Blog. Find more ideas on the LeadingThoughts index. * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. View the full article

U.S. egg prices have fallen 60% from last year’s record highs, making it easier for consumers to fill their Easter baskets and Passover Seder plates. Bird flu was to blame for elevated retail prices during the first five months of 2025, and the course of the highly contagious disease is a big reason why prices are much lower now. An outbreak forced farmers and commercial producers to slaughter entire broods of egg-laying hens, but ebbing cases in the second half of last year helped restore egg supplies, said Mark Jordan, the executive director of agricultural research firm LEAP Market Analytics. The stubborn outbreak is still affecting U.S. poultry flocks, with the number of infected commercial flocks rising in March. But farmers have been rapidly replenishing flocks that died or had to be destroyed. Between July 2024 and July 2025 the number of egg-type chicks hatched in the U.S. rose 8%. It was the first sustained and substantial increase in the availability of specially-bred layer chicks since the bird flu outbreak began in 2022, Jordan said. The The President administration’s decision to import nearly 1 billion eggs last year also helped lower prices, Jordan said, although imports have since returned to more normal levels. The U.S. also exported fewer eggs last year to help boost domestic supplies. But what’s good for consumers isn’t necessarily good for farmers, who are finding it difficult to recoup their costs as egg prices plummet. They also may have to pay more for feed, including corn and soybean meal, because of the Iran war. “Farmers are no strangers to volatility. It’s part of the business. But in recent months, many have been selling eggs at or below the cost of production,” said Emily Metz, the president and CEO of the America Egg Board, a trade group. Here’s a look at U.S. egg prices by the numbers, according to government figures: — $2.50 per dozen: Average U.S. price for a dozen eggs in February. — $6.23 per dozen: Average U.S. price for a dozen eggs in March 2025, which was an all-time high. — 315.8 million: Number of egg-laying hens in the U.S. as of March 1. That’s 8% higher than last year. — 45 million: Number of egg-laying hens in Iowa, the top U.S. state for egg production. — 205.7 million: Number of chickens and other birds in commercial and backyard flocks that died or were culled due to bird flu since February 2022. — 5.22 million: Number of chickens and other birds that died or were culled because of bird flu in March 2026. That is more than double the number affected in March 2025. — 657%: The percentage increase in U.S. imports of shell eggs in 2025 compared to the year before. — $1.05: Average cost for farmers to produce a dozen eggs, not including labor and transportation, according to the American Egg Board. In late March, the national average wholesale price of eggs was $1.17 per dozen. — 40,000: Number of real eggs that will be used for this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll, —Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Business Writer View the full article

MVP culture, investor pressure, and marketing—not product quality—often decide winners. Accounting ARC With Liz Mason and Byron Patrick Center for Accounting Transformation Go PRO for members-only access to more Center for Accounting Transformation. View the full article

MVP culture, investor pressure, and marketing—not product quality—often decide winners. Accounting ARC With Liz Mason and Byron Patrick Center for Accounting Transformation Go PRO for members-only access to more Center for Accounting Transformation. View the full article

You’ve done everything right. You have a fast website with comprehensive content, pages ranking in the top 10, and a strong backlink profile. Yet when you search the query you rank for, your site doesn’t appear in Google’s corresponding AI Overview. This is a retrieval problem, not a ranking issue. And the difference between the two is the most important shift SEOs need to understand right now. AI Overviews don’t work like traditional organic rankings. Instead of considering which page has the most signals, AI Overviews look for the page that gives the cleanest, most usable answer. If your content doesn’t meet that standard, your traditional search ranking is irrelevant. Here’s what’s going wrong, and how to fix it so your content appears in more AI Overviews. The ranking-citation gap is real — and growing The overlap between AI Overview citations and organic rankings grew from 32.3% to 54.5% between May 2024 and September 2025, according to a BrightEdge study. This trend sounds encouraging. But it also means that even at peak convergence, nearly half of all AI Overview citations come from pages that don’t rank at the top of organic results. Google actively bypasses higher-ranking pages when it finds content that better serves the AI Overview format. The pattern varies sharply by sector, though. BrightEdge data shows that in ecommerce, the overlap barely changed, remaining essentially flat over the entire 16-month period. And in your money or your life (YMYL) categories like healthcare, insurance, and education, the overlap between AI Overview citations and organic rankings ranges from 68% to 75%. Ranking and visibility are no longer the same thing. You can rank second and be invisible. Or, you can rank on the second page and be the first thing a searcher reads. Dig deeper: 7 hard truths about measuring AI visibility and GEO performance Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with 5 reasons AI Overviews skip your content 1. Your content answers the wrong version of the question Informational queries — specifically long-tail and conversational searches — typically trigger AI Overviews. Informational queries drive 57% of AI Overviews, while commercial queries trigger this AI feature far less frequently, according to Semrush research. Google’s AI engine looks for content that matches what the user asks, not just the keyword you’ve targeted. So, an AI Overview answering the query “what’s the best way to manage a remote team’s workload?” probably won’t cite a page that ranks for the keyword “project management software” and leads with features and pricing. 2. You’ve buried the answer If your introduction spends three paragraphs establishing context, warming up the reader, or restating the question before answering it, the retrieval system moves on. It seeks information it can extract cleanly. If that answer isn’t near the top of the page, the system skips that page. 3. Your structure is opaque to AI systems Traditional SEO content is built around comprehensive long-form content: 3,000-word guides covering every angle of a topic, written for readers who scroll and skim. AI retrieval systems don’t work the same way. They need to identify discrete, self-contained answers within your content. That requires clear heading hierarchies, short paragraphs, and content that AI systems can extract. A section under a specific heading should completely answer the question posed in that heading, without requiring the surrounding context to make sense. Content written as one long, unbroken narrative is harder for AI systems to parse. Even if every word is accurate and authoritative, it may not earn a citation if the structure doesn’t help the retrieval system identify individual answer units. Dig deeper: AI Overview citations: Why they don’t drive clicks and what to do Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. 4. Your E-E-A-T signals aren’t visible at the content level Google has been clear that experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) signals are important for content quality in traditional search. It likely matters for AI Overviews, too. But these signals need to appear in the content itself, not just in your domain profile or link graph. Strong domain authority counts for less than you’d think if the content itself carries no credibility signals. Who wrote it? Where did the data come from? Is there anything here that couldn’t have been written by someone who’d never worked in this field? A retrieval system evaluating an individual page doesn’t know your domain’s track record. The page must make the case for itself. Content-level E-E-A-T signals are particularly important in YMYL categories, where AI Overviews are selective about sources because the risk of misinformation is higher. 5. You’re targeting queries that don’t trigger AI Overviews Before optimizing your content for AI engines, it’s worth checking whether your target queries trigger AI Overviews at all. As of late 2025, AI Overviews appear in 16% of search results, though that figure isn’t evenly distributed across query types. Transactional queries, navigational searches, branded queries, and highly local searches are far less likely to trigger an AI Overview. If most of your traffic comes from commercial or transactional keywords, the lack of AI Overview citation may not be a content problem. It may simply be that those query types are less likely to generate overviews in the first place. What the data tells us about the impact of this shift The stakes are significant. Research by Seer Interactive shows that organic click-through rates (CTRs) for informational queries that displayed AI Overviews dropped 61%, from 1.76% to 0.61%, between June 2024 and September 2025. Paid CTR fell even further, from 19.7% to 6.34%. But the same research reveals a critical asymmetry: Brands cited in AI Overviews saw 35% higher organic CTR and 91% higher paid CTR than when they weren’t cited. A citation in an AI Overview doesn’t just protect you from a CTR decline. It actively amplifies your visibility. The Pew Research Center’s study of searches by U.S. adults in March 2025 found that only 8% of users who encountered an AI Overview clicked a traditional search result, compared to 15% who clicked when no overview appeared. And 26% of searches with AI Overviews resulted in no clicks at all. If AI Overviews appear for your most valuable queries and you aren’t cited, you aren’t just missing out on the overview. You’re losing clicks you previously received from the organic listing underneath it. How to optimize for retrieval, not just rankings These trends require you to adjust how you think about content structure and intent. Here’s where to focus: Rewrite your introductions: Your first paragraph should directly and completely answer the primary question of the page. Save context and elaboration for later sections. Write as if the first 100 words of your page represent a standalone answer. Restructure your headings: Each heading should be a question or a complete, specific claim. The following section should fully answer or support that heading without requiring the reader to review previous sections. Think of each section as a self-contained answer unit. Add explicit expertise signals: Include author attribution with credentials, first-person experience language, original data, and links to primary sources and original research. These signals matter at the content level, not just at the domain level. Audit your query triggers: Manually test your target queries in Google to see which ones actually generate AI Overviews. For those that do, study how the cited sources are structured, the length of the cited sections, and the format of the answer. Use that as your editorial brief. Expand your topical coverage: AI Overviews favor sources that demonstrate breadth of knowledge across a topic, not just single-page depth. Focus on answering several related questions well instead of building one exceptional page surrounded by thin content. Dig deeper: Want to beat AI Overviews? Produce unmistakably human content See the complete picture of your search visibility. Track, optimize, and win in Google and AI search from one platform. Start Free Trial Get started with How to shift your SEO approach What AI Overviews represent is something that’s been discussed for years, but few have truly prepared for: the separation of content quality from ranking signals. For two decades, we used rankings as a proxy for quality. High-ranking content was, by definition, good enough. But that assumption no longer holds. Ranking in traditional search indicates that your brand has authority and that your page is relevant to the search query. It says nothing about whether your content is structured in a way that AI retrieval systems can use. Visibility now goes to whoever understands how AI systems identify, extract, and surface answers. A strong backlink profile won’t help you if the answer is buried on page three of a 4,000-word guide. Ranking in the top 10 is still worth pursuing. But it’s no longer the whole game. View the full article

Consumers are being warned to avoid certain garlic products right now. Tops Friendly Markets has issued a recall of two types of peeled garlic due to potential contamination from Clostridium botulinum, according to a notice posted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium that can “cause life threatening illness or death,” the notice further states. Tops Friendly Markets, a supermarket chain based in Williamsville, New York, raised the alarm after a routine store inspection found that the peeled garlic containers were being kept at insufficient temperatures. The improper storage could allow the Clostridium botulinum bacteria to occur, potentially causing botulism in consumers. Tops Friendly Markets has also published the recall, giving noting that it has a Class I label—the most serious designation. As of Wednesday, April 1, there are no known illnesses related to the garlic. What products are affected? The recall involves two different types of peeled garlic packed in plastic bags. Unlike many recalls, this issue occurred once the products were already in stores. This means that all product code dates are included in the recall. Below are the product’s full names and UPC codes: Christopher Ranch Peeled Garlic, 6 oz: UPCs of 74574-10852 Garland Fresh Peeled Garlic, 6 oz: UPCs of 71894-00000 and 68826-75340 You can view images of the recalled products on the FDA’s website.. Where and when was the product sold? The recalled peeled garlic products were distributed across Tops stores in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont locations. What should I do if I have this product? Return the recalled product to your store of purchase for a full refund. The FDA advises that you should not eat the garlic even if it looks and smells absolutely fine. What botulism symptoms should I look out for? Botulism is a type of food poisoning that has the potential to be fatal. According to the FDA, botulism symptoms can include: General weakness Dizziness Double-vision Trouble with speaking or swallowing Difficulty in breathing Weakness of other muscles Abdominal distension Constipation The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends seeking immediate medical help if you experience any of these symptoms. Antitoxin treatment can prevent further complications from botulism, but works most effectively if used early. View the full article

Upselling is a sales strategy that encourages customers to buy more expensive or upgraded products. It’s not just about increasing revenue; it’s about enhancing the customer experience by offering customized options that meet their needs. Comprehending how to effectively implement upselling can lead to greater customer loyalty and satisfaction. Nonetheless, there are specific techniques and common pitfalls to contemplate. Let’s explore how you can optimize your upselling efforts for better results. Key Takeaways Upselling is a sales strategy that encourages customers to buy more expensive or upgraded products to enhance their experience. It can lead to a significant increase in sales revenue, often between 10-30%. Effective upselling focuses on presenting tailored options at crucial moments, like checkout or post-purchase. Personalization and clear communication of benefits are essential for successful upselling approaches. Avoid common pitfalls such as irrelevant offerings and aggressive tactics to maintain customer trust and loyalty. What Is Upselling? Upselling is a strategic sales approach that encourages you to reflect on purchasing a more expensive or upgraded version of a product or service you’re already interested in. Fundamentally, upselling meaning involves suggesting higher-end options that improve your experience, increasing the average order value (AOV) for businesses. This technique typically occurs at pivotal moments, like during product selection or at checkout, when you’re more open to evaluating premium choices. Effective upselling hinges on comprehending your needs and preferences, allowing businesses to customize their recommendations and showcase the benefits of upgraded products. Unlike cross-selling, which offers complementary items, upselling focuses solely on a more valuable version of the same product. Research shows that successful upselling can notably boost revenue, with estimates suggesting that just two effective upsells can add an impressive $93,000 in annual revenue for a business. Grasping this technique can improve your purchasing decisions and overall experience. The Importance of Upselling for Businesses Effective sales strategies are vital for businesses aiming to maximize their revenue potential, and upselling plays a noteworthy role in achieving this goal. Comprehending the upselling definition is fundamental for leveraging its benefits. Here are three reasons why upselling is important for your business: Increased Average Order Value (AOV): Effective upselling can lead to a 10-30% increase in sales revenue, boosting your bottom line considerably. Cost-Effective Sales: It’s five to 25 times cheaper to upsell to existing customers than to acquire new ones, making it a smart business strategy. Enhanced Customer Loyalty: Approximately 70% of customers are more likely to buy when they perceive added value, which upselling provides through product upgrades. Best Practices for Effective Upselling Gaining proficiency in upselling techniques can greatly boost your business’s revenue potential. To effectively implement upselling, present offers at vital moments, like during checkout or post-purchase, ensuring you capture customer interest. Tailor upsell options to align with customer needs by using data analytics to identify relevant products that improve their overall experience. Maintain a low-friction upsell process by clearly communicating pricing and benefits, allowing customers to easily grasp the value of the upgrade without feeling pressured. It’s likewise wise to limit price increases to around 25% of the original purchase, making the offer appealing and manageable for customers. Continuously evaluate and adjust your upselling tactics based on customer feedback and performance metrics; this helps optimize effectiveness and maintain trust. Identifying Opportunities for Upselling Identifying opportunities for upselling involves a strategic approach that leverages customer insights and data analysis. To effectively implement upselling, consider the following: Analyze purchase history: Look for patterns in customer purchases that suggest they might benefit from upgrades or additional features. Engage customers: Use surveys or direct conversations to discover unmet needs that upselling could address, enhancing customer satisfaction. Utilize data analytics: Segment customers based on behavior, allowing you to tailor upselling strategies that resonate with specific groups. Common Mistakes to Avoid in Upselling When upselling, it’s vital to avoid common pitfalls that can hinder your success. Comprehending the definition of upselling is fundamental, but implementing it effectively is just as important. Here are some mistakes to watch out for: Mistake Consequence Solution Offering irrelevant options Alienates customers Align recommendations with preferences Being overly aggressive Pushes customers away Use a softer approach Failing to communicate value Missed opportunities Clearly explain benefits Upselling excessive amounts Deters customers Keep price increases reasonable Lack of personalization Lowers effectiveness Tailor offers to individual needs Frequently Asked Questions What Is the 3 3 3 Rule in Sales? The 3 3 3 rule in sales involves making three attempts to reach out to a customer, offering three distinct value propositions, and waiting three days for a response before following up. This approach emphasizes persistence while respecting the customer’s decision-making time. Each communication should highlight a unique benefit of your product or service, helping the customer appreciate its value. Following this rule can boost engagement and improve your chances of closing a sale. What Exactly Does Upselling Mean? Upselling means encouraging customers to buy a more expensive version of a product or service instead of just the basic option. This strategy aims to increase the average order value and overall revenue. It differs from cross-selling, which offers related products. To be effective, you need to understand your customers’ preferences and needs, and timing matters; upselling can occur during product selection, checkout, or after a purchase. What Are the 5 P’s of Successful Selling? The 5 P’s of successful selling are Product, Price, Place, Promotion, and People. You need to understand your Product’s features and benefits to meet customer needs. Set competitive Prices that reflect value during considering upsell potential. Make certain your products are available at the right Place to reach your audience effectively. Use Promotion to communicate your value proposition. Finally, focus on building relationships with People to establish trust, which improves overall sales success. What Is the 10 3 1 Rule in Sales? The 10-3-1 Rule in sales suggests that for every 10 interactions you have with potential customers, you should aim for 3 appointments, which should ideally lead to 1 sale. This rule helps you monitor your engagement rates and conversion metrics, allowing you to identify areas where your outreach could improve. Conclusion In conclusion, mastering upselling is vital for enhancing sales and customer satisfaction. By comprehending what upselling is and recognizing its significance, you can implement best practices and identify key opportunities. Avoiding common mistakes will further strengthen your upselling efforts. When done effectively, upselling not just boosts your revenue but additionally builds lasting relationships with customers. Focus on tailoring your offers to meet individual needs, and you’ll likely see a positive impact on your business’s overall performance. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Understanding Upselling Meaning – A Guide for Boosting Sales" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Brands must move beyond llms.txt toward structured APIs, entity graphs, and provenance to earn accurate AI citations. The post Llms.txt Was Step One. Here’s The Architecture That Comes Next appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

In regard to effective community building, comprehending your members’ needs and motivations is critical. You need to define and communicate the value your community offers during the establishment of clear goals that resonate with both individual and collective purposes. Cultivating inclusivity and encouraging active participation creates a dynamic environment. Nonetheless, it is important to build trust through transparency and adapt to feedback, ensuring the community remains relevant. What other principles do you think play a significant role in this process? Key Takeaways Understand and address the diverse needs and motivations of community members to foster engagement and belonging. Clearly define community goals and values to align members’ interests with organizational objectives. Promote inclusivity and accessibility to ensure all voices, especially marginalized ones, are heard and valued. Create safe and supportive environments that build trust and encourage open dialogue among members. Encourage collaboration and continuous improvement through shared initiatives and regular feedback mechanisms. Understanding Your Community Members Comprehending your community members is vital for building an effective and sustainable environment. Grasping your community members means actively identifying their needs, interests, and motivations. This approach guarantees the community design resonates with them and encourages participation. Engaged members are more likely to contribute when they perceive tangible benefits from their involvement, highlighting the need to address their evolving needs. Implementing community building tips, like regularly evaluating feedback through surveys and discussions, can provide valuable insights. This practice cultivates a responsive community environment and improves members’ sense of belonging, which is fundamental for long-term engagement and satisfaction. Additionally, knowing your members enables leaders to tailor strategies and initiatives that align with collective goals, ultimately improving the overall effectiveness of the community. Defining and Communicating Value Comprehending the needs and motivations of community members is just the beginning; defining and communicating the value of your community is equally important. To effectively define community building, you need to align members’ needs with your organizational goals, creating shared value. Regular assessments help you identify what members find valuable, ensuring ongoing engagement. Clearly articulate the specific benefits your community offers, such as support networks, resources, or collaboration opportunities. This transparency encourages active participation and strengthens trust. Effective communication is vital; consistent messaging that resonates with members’ interests improves commitment. Utilizing tools like community charters can help outline and communicate the defined value, ensuring everyone understands the community’s purpose and goals. Establishing Clear Goals and Shared Purpose Establishing clear goals is crucial for guiding your community in the direction of success, as it aligns everyone’s expectations and promotes a unified focus. By collaboratively defining community objectives, you can create a shared vision that motivates members and improves their engagement. Regularly revisiting these goals guarantees they remain relevant and effectively meet the evolving needs of the community. Define Community Objectives Clearly Defining community objectives clearly is vital for creating a focused and engaging environment. When you establish well-defined goals, you provide direction that aligns member expectations, which improves overall engagement and participation. Shared objectives nurture a collective identity among members, promoting collaboration and a sense of belonging. It’s important to regularly revisit and refine these objectives to guarantee they remain relevant and responsive to your community’s needs and interests. Incorporating member input during the goal-setting process increases buy-in, as individuals feel their voices are valued. Foster Collective Vision Together When community members come together to create a collective vision, they cultivate a stronger sense of belonging and purpose that drives engagement. Establishing clear goals and a shared purpose is essential. Here are three key aspects to reflect on: Involve Members: Engaging everyone in the goal-setting process promotes ownership and commitment, leading to stronger relationships within the community. Define a Mission: A well-articulated mission aligns expectations and provides a framework for decision-making, enhancing collaboration and effectiveness. Revisit Goals Regularly: Regularly reviewing and adapting goals guarantees they remain relevant and reflective of evolving needs, promoting sustained engagement. Effective leaders facilitate discussions around this collective vision, guiding the community toward shared objectives as they nurture inclusivity and collaboration. Align Member Aspirations Effectively Aligning member aspirations effectively is essential for building a cohesive community that thrives on shared goals. Establishing clear objectives helps members understand their roles and promotes engagement. A well-defined mission statement serves as a guiding framework, whereas regularly revisiting goals based on feedback keeps the community relevant. Tools like community charters or vision statements articulate these shared goals, ensuring everyone is aligned. Goal Type Purpose Tools Used Short-term Goals Immediate engagement Action plans Long-term Goals Sustained growth Vision statements Feedback Mechanism Adaptation and relevance Surveys and discussions Shared purpose improves collaboration, encouraging members to contribute to a common vision. Fostering Inclusivity and Diversity Nurturing inclusivity and diversity is essential for building strong communities that genuinely reflect the needs and values of all their members. To achieve this, consider the following key strategies: Equitable Representation: Actively include marginalized voices in decision-making processes to improve community legitimacy and promote innovation. Diverse Perspectives: Guarantee all demographic groups are engaged, avoiding tokenism, so that their unique needs are recognized and addressed. Accessibility: Prioritize accessibility for individuals with disabilities and recognize the intersectionality of identities to create a welcoming environment for everyone. Encouraging Active Participation and Engagement Building on the foundation of inclusivity and diversity, encouraging active participation and engagement is crucial for a thriving community. Establishing clear roles and responsibilities helps cultivate ownership and accountability among members. This clarity empowers individuals to contribute more actively, knowing their efforts matter. Incorporating diverse perspectives improves discussions and stimulates innovative solutions, increasing member involvement and commitment. Regular feedback mechanisms, like surveys and focus groups, let leaders adapt strategies based on members’ needs, ensuring ongoing relevance. Social events, collaborative projects, and recognizing contributions create a sense of belonging and strengthen connections, motivating individuals to participate. Furthermore, utilizing technology—such as social media and online platforms—facilitates continuous interaction, allowing members to connect and collaborate regardless of physical location. Building Trust Through Transparency When you prioritize transparency in your community, you lay the groundwork for trust among members. By sharing regular updates on decisions, funding, and progress, you help everyone feel informed and valued. Here are three key ways to build trust through transparency: Open Communication: Create channels for member input and feedback, encouraging a sense of ownership and collective responsibility. Measurable Goals: Establish clear objectives and track progress. This not only clarifies community aims but additionally demonstrates accountability to your members. Sharing Outcomes: Be transparent about the results of feedback and assessments. When members see their contributions lead to tangible changes, trust grows. Adapting to Evolving Needs and Feedback Adapting to the evolving needs of your community is essential for nurturing a dynamic and engaged environment. Regularly evaluating community needs through surveys and focus groups allows you to gather valuable feedback that informs your strategies and guarantees alignment with member interests. Implementing anonymous pulse surveys can help you gauge the level of inclusion and pinpoint areas for improvement. Transparency about how you utilize feedback cultivates trust among members, encouraging them to engage and share their insights. Moreover, holding brainstorming sessions enables members to collaboratively discuss and propose new ideas and initiatives. This continuous adaptation involves tracking progress through measurable goals, ensuring that your community strategies remain relevant and responsive to changing member dynamics and preferences. Creating Safe and Supportive Spaces Creating an environment where community members feel secure and supported plays a crucial role in nurturing engagement and collaboration. To achieve this, consider implementing the following strategies: Establish Safety Policies: Develop clear guidelines that address harassment and discrimination, ensuring everyone feels psychologically safe and included. Train Facilitators: Providing training for facilitators on how to mediate discussions and uphold respect improves safety during interactions, encouraging diverse participation. Offer Wellness Programs: Create support networks through wellness initiatives that address members’ holistic health needs, contributing to their emotional and social well-being. Additionally, regularly assess community needs through anonymous feedback mechanisms. This promotes transparency and allows for continuous improvement in maintaining a safe and supportive space. Promoting Collaboration and Collective Action To effectively promote collaboration and collective action within a community, it’s vital to establish shared goals that resonate with all members. These goals align the interests of participants, guiding everyone toward common objectives. Open communication is fundamental; it allows members to share ideas, resources, and feedback, nurturing trust and cooperation. Engaging in collaborative initiatives, such as workshops and projects, not just stimulates active participation but also cultivates a sense of ownership in the community’s success. By utilizing diverse perspectives and skills, you can improve creativity and innovation, leading to more effective problem-solving and decision-making. Regularly celebrating collective achievements and milestones strengthens group cohesion and motivates continued involvement. This environment of collaboration guarantees that all members feel valued and invested, eventually contributing to the community’s overall progress and effectiveness. Emphasizing these principles can lead to sustainable and impactful collective action. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the Principles of Community Building? Community building relies on several key principles. First, you need to understand your members’ needs, ensuring their active involvement. Defining clear value for participation promotes engagement. A strategic plan outlines roles and responsibilities, as transparent communication builds trust. Emphasizing inclusion and diversity amplifies marginalized voices, leading to richer discussions. Finally, encouraging continuous learning and psychological safety allows members to share ideas freely, ultimately driving community growth and collaboration. What Are the 5 Principles of Community Development? The five principles of community development focus on creating resilient and thriving communities. First, inclusivity guarantees diverse voices are heard in decision-making. Second, collaboration unites individuals and organizations to pursue common goals. Third, sustainability emphasizes long-term solutions that empower communities. Fourth, effective leadership guides initiatives and inspires community involvement. Finally, engaging in continuous learning and evaluation helps communities adapt strategies based on feedback, making certain that initiatives remain relevant and impactful over time. What Are the Six Key Principles of Community Development? When exploring the six key principles of community development, you’ll find inclusivity and diversity at the forefront, ensuring all voices are heard. Collaboration and shared purpose unite members toward common goals. Careful planning and preparation lay the groundwork for effective engagement. Transparency and open communication build trust, encouraging participation. Finally, empowerment and support equip members with necessary resources, cultivating ownership and enhancing collective efforts for community improvement. Each principle plays an essential role in successful development. What Are the 5 C’s of Community Planning? The 5 C’s of community planning are Context, Collaboration, Capacity, Communication, and Continuity. Context involves comprehending your community’s unique characteristics to guide effective planning. Collaboration focuses on building partnerships among stakeholders to guarantee inclusive participation. Capacity refers to the necessary resources and skills to support community activities. Communication emphasizes open dialogues among members to build trust, whereas Continuity guarantees sustainable efforts over time. These elements work together to create engaged and resilient communities. Conclusion In conclusion, effective community building hinges on comprehending members’ needs, defining clear goals, and promoting inclusivity. By creating safe spaces and encouraging active participation, you can build trust and improve collaboration. Regularly adapting to feedback guarantees your community remains relevant and responsive to change. Celebrating achievements reinforces a shared vision, ultimately fortifying connections among members. By applying these key principles, you can cultivate a thriving community that aligns individual motivations with collective objectives. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What Are Key Principles of Effective Community Building?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company just had "its best launch week ever" for customers picking up a Mac for the first time, as the MacBook Neo, M5 MacBook Air, and M5 Pro/Max MacBook Pros went on sale. It sounds as though people are switching to the Mac in significant numbers, with the $599 MacBook Neo likely to be having the most impact. If you're one of those responsible for Apple's record-breaking launch week for first-time customers, you might be wondering where to get started with macOS—and how it differs (or doesn't differ) from the Windows OS you're already used to. Windows is the operating system I grew up with, right from the early days of Windows 95, but as a tech journalist I've had to write plenty of articles on macOS. I use both operating systems pretty much every day, so here's my guide to familiarizing yourself with Apple's desktop operating system if you've only ever used Microsoft's. MacBook Neo (256GB) $599.00 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $599.00 at Amazon Macs have a menu barPerhaps the biggest interface change that you need to adapt to in the beginning is the menu bar. If you've only ever known Windows, you'll be used to having a taskbar down at the bottom, and app menus nearer top, attached to the programs they're with. macOS has a menu bar that combines these various elements together. It takes the app shortcuts, time and date display, and notifications pop-ups from the bottom-right corner in Windows, and puts them in the top-right corner. This same top bar also includes the menus for whatever app is currently active. So, whether you're using Google Chrome, Adobe Photoshop, or Spotify, the menus aren't attached to the program windows—they're right at the top of the screen. It can take some getting used to, but the name of the currently active program is always shown in the top-left corner, and to the left of that is the Apple menu—which I'll get into next. Macs do not have a Start menuThere's no Start button and no Start menu on macOS—instead, different parts of the Start menu are spread out in other places. For example, if you're looking for the OS settings or for shutdown and user account options, these are in the Apple menu: That's the Apple logo that always sits right up in the top-left corner of the screen. Go here to find About This Mac (info about the computer you're using); the options for Sleep, Restart, and Shut Down; and controls for locking the Mac or logging out. Also of use here is Force Quit, which can close misbehaving apps for you. The Apple menu also gives you access to the macOS App Store, and any app updates that might be pending there. The Recent Items submenu, meanwhile, fulfills some of the uses of the Windows Start menu, giving you convenient access to recently launched apps and recently opened files. You can get at your apps through Spotlight. Credit: Lifehacker How the macOS app experience differs from WindowsAs on Windows, you can install apps on macOS through the official App Store, or by downloading them through your web browser. There are multiple ways to find and launch apps, which can be a bit confusing at first: The method I tend to use the most is launching Spotlight (via Cmd+Space or the magnifying glass on the menu bar), then typing out the name of a program. Then there's the Dock at the bottom of the screen, which is largely equivalent to the Windows Taskbar. You can switch between apps and launch recent apps from here, as well pin app shortcuts permanently (right-click on an app icon and choose Options > Keep in Dock). Open the Apple menu and select System Settings > Desktop & Dock to set the Dock position and behavior. To find all the apps installed on macOS, you can launch Spotlight (as above), then click the App Store icon to the right of the search box. You can also launch the Finder app and choose Go > Applications from the menus (or select the Applications link in the left-hand navigation pane, if it's visible). The Mac's "Finder" is your new "File Explorer"Finder is the place to manage everything saved locally on your system, and while it can feel different from File Explorer to start with, it doesn't take long to get used to. Like any other app, you can launch it from Spotlight or the Dock. By default, there's a navigation pane on the left that lets you jump to key areas on your system, including the desktop and your Downloads folder (as well as the Applications folder). As normal, the main menus are up at the top, but drop-down menus for controlling the layout of Finder can be found across the top of the current window. A lot of Finder operations work the same as they do in File Explorer—so drag a file from one window to another to move it between folders, for example. One neat feature in Finder that you don't get on Windows is Quick Look, which lets you press Space to quickly preview a selected file, without opening it up. How to control the settings on your new MacThere are lots of ways to customize on macOS, and you can get started by opening the Apple menu and choosing System Settings. From here you can manage everything from software updates and Siri access, to wifi connections and battery life (if you're using a MacBook and not a desktop Mac). Head to Wallpaper to set your desktop background (you'll see dynamic backdrops that change over time are supported), Notifications to control how often you're distracted by app alerts, and Menu Bar to change the elements and shortcuts that appear right at the top of the screen. If you're wondering about how to tweak something in macOS, you'll usually find it here. Options for individual programs are typically handled by clicking on the name of the program on the menu bar (like Chrome or Spotify), then choosing Settings from the menu that appears. System Settings on macOS. Credit: Lifehacker Keyboard shortcuts take some getting used to on macOS Keyboard shortcuts are a crucial part of getting around both Windows and macOS as efficiently as possible, but you're going to have to retrain your muscle memory when you switch to Apple computers. If you use both Windows and macOS together, like me, you may need to take a second to remember which keys to hit when. In a lot of cases, you can replace Ctrl on Windows with Cmd (Command) on macOS: Use Cmd+C to copy (instead of Ctrl+C), Cmd+V to paste (instead of Ctrl+V), and Cmd+W to close down browser tabs (instead of Cmd+W), for example. Sometimes the combination is a little different. If you're used to using Alt+Tab to cycle around your open apps in Windows, you need to use Cmd+Tab for this on macOS—though you can install a utility to replicate Alt+Tab if you miss it. There are utilities available that can help you learn all the relevant shortcuts you need. The Apple ecosystem integration is seamlessIf you already have an iPhone or iPad to go along with your new Mac, then there are a lot of cool features to explore. As long as your mobile devices and your Mac are using the same Apple Account and signed into the same wifi network, they'll work together. There's a universal clipboard, so you can copy an image on macOS and paste it on iOS. You can also mirror your iPhone screen on the macOS desktop, control an iPad with your Mac's keyboard and mouse, use your iPhone as a webcam, and even use an iPad as a second screen for your Mac. If you're on the Android side of the fence, your phone won't play quite as nicely with macOS—though Apple Music and Apple TV are available on the Google Play Store. The best ways I've found of using Android, macOS, and Windows together involve tools that are cross-platform, including Dropbox, just about everything Google makes, and web apps. View the full article

Discover the best database software with no-code application builders for project workflows. Compare features, pricing, and use cases to find the right platform. The post 6 Best No-code Database Application Builders You Should Try in 2026 appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article

First-quarter increase comes as Chinese rival BYD’s electric vehicle sales fell 25% amid intensifying competitionView the full article

In this first half of 2026, we see that marketers are increasingly channeling the Australian songstress Olivia Newton-John and her 1981 hit that called the world to “get physical.” The big shift we see is that brands are rediscovering the power of the physical experience, the touch, the communal moment, the atmosphere, and the desire for human connection. As AI-generated content floods screens with efficiency, creativity, and personalization, more brands are also leaning into the physical experiences that offer this human energy. These experiences are real, memorable, and shareable—and they anchor brands in lived moments that blur into culture rather than drifting into potential artificial insignificance. This is something that Vogue Business sees most deeply with the Gen Z audience (which now has a spending power in the U.S. of $360 billion). This generation is demanding experiential retail, emotional connections, and immersive experiences as part of omnichannel strategies. Vogue states that for this audience, the linear marketing funnel is now obsolete, and that a real-life connection to a brand is the key weapon of choice for modern marketers. Even with our world living online the latest data suggests that consumers are out and about more and that brands are increasingly spending to win a share of wallet by bringing value to consumers’ lives. According to Statista, global experiential marketing spend exceeded $128 billion in 2024, up from $116.1 billion the year prior, rising above pre-pandemic levels for the first time. And this is before the mega global “physical” communal moments like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic games land on the horizon. A WIDE TREND. We see this trend of marketers playing in physical experiences across nearly every category. There is an unbridled rise of glamour in physical experiences by nearly every fashion brand including massive investments in marketing spectacles from Loewe and Louis Vuitton, to the thematic touch-points and pop-ups from a Summer of Lacoste, to the rising trend of the whole fashion industry seemingly wanting to get into food. We see this scale and creative playfulness also play out way beyond fashion with brands like Lego creating life-size F1 racing cars, to the Jordan brand taking over the NYC skies with a drone show, and last year’s global Squid Game takeover by Netflix alongside an investment in its Netflix Houses experiences. THE MOVE INTO PHYSICAL So why are brands investing more in the physical now as part of their omnichannel planning? An antidote to tech tiredness: As we become more inundated by AI-driven ads, personalized feeds, and virtual influencers, the need for constant information is balanced by a desire for more inspiration in the real world. Brand physical activations slice through the noise and deeply connect with audiences by grounding consumers in the tangible and authentic. We love the real, real: Physical activations feel inherently real—hard to fake or ignore. And in our daily lives we love this interruption in our repertoire. IRL experiences spark emotions, encourage social sharing, and create cultural moments—helping brands build deeper, more visceral connections. And they show up on our feeds and in our lives in a more meaningful way. Deep community craving: Physical experiences emphasize community, craftsmanship, and purpose—all counterpoints to AI’s precision, but sometimes viewed as hollow efficiency. As humans we crave this connection to each other with a belief in a broader community, and real-life experiences reflect purpose and presence. The best of both worlds: Physical activations now often double as digital content engines—wired for social virality while delivering memorable, multi-sensory engagement. They bridge digital and physical worlds—AI poems, AR try-ons, QR-activated benefits—but are delivered in person. They create layered engagement and the dual impact strategy means brands and consumers connect in the best of both worlds. THE CATEGORIES BENEFITING FROM THIS TREND With such a desire for deep community craving, and a love of the real, real, the sports industry is a huge beneficiary from the power of unlocking this deeper human connection. In the 2025 State of Sports Marketing report, analyst Brian Weiser of Madison and Wall estimated that the cost of sports rights should grow almost 8% annually compared to the last 20 years. Paul Woolmington, the Canvas CEO, and report author, said of the real driver: “The opportunity is to participate in cultural moments of genuine significance—to be part of the conversations that matter.” This is something we see at our company, 72andSunny, with the increased numbers of marketers coming to Sports Beach in Cannes each year to learn, or with our key sports partner clients like the NFL or NASCAR, or the brands we work that invest in sports, like United Airlines through their Wrexham sponsorship or e.l.f. cosmetics and its NWSL partnership. We see these partners winning because they are leading with real meaning, a true story-telling narrative, and a clear belief in the power of fandom to drive brand love. They understand the perfect alchemy of connection, community, content, and creativity, building experiences that make their consumers want to belong with the brand. So as we enter the next couple few years of mega sporting moments, and as the marketing world continues to get more physical, finding a way to unleash the power of the physical experience, the touch, the communal moment, the atmosphere, and the desire for human connection will be key. Chris Kay is CEO international of 72andSunny. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Google Pixel 9 128GB (Unlocked) has dropped to $499 (originally $799), its lowest price yet. That “unlocked” label does more than look good in a listing—it means you’re not tied to a single carrier, which makes switching networks or using a second SIM while traveling much easier. The Pixel 9 isn’t the newest device in Google’s lineup anymore, but it doesn’t feel outdated either. It lands in a comfortable middle ground where you get most of what makes Pixel phones appealing without paying flagship prices. Read more in our review of the Pixel 9. Google Pixel 9 Unlocked phone in Porcelain $499.00 at Amazon $799.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Get Deal $499.00 at Amazon $799.00 Save $300.00 In day-to-day use, the phone holds up well. It runs on Google’s Tensor G4 chip paired with 12GB of RAM, which keeps things moving smoothly whether you’re juggling apps or leaning into Google’s AI features. Some of those tools still feel like they’re finding their footing, but they’re usable and improving. The 6.3-inch OLED display refreshes at up to 120Hz, so scrolling and animations feel fluid without draining the battery too quickly. Speaking of battery, the 4,700mAh cell lasted close to 12 hours in PCMag’s video test, which translates to a full day for most people. Charging is fine, but not fast by today’s standards. You get 27W wired speeds, no charger in the box, and up to 15W wireless charging with Google’s Pixel Stand. The camera setup is where the Pixel 9 still punches above its price. It uses a 50MP main sensor and a 48MP ultra-wide, and the results are consistently sharp with reliable color processing. It skips some of the Pro model’s autofocus upgrades, but most users won’t notice the difference unless they’re shooting fast-moving subjects. The build also feels solid, with an aluminum frame, matte finish, and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Add in seven years of software support, along with 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, and dual SIM support, and it’s clear this phone is built to last. If you’re not chasing the latest release, this deal makes the Pixel 9 a practical upgrade that should stay relevant for years. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A11+ 128GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet (Gray) — $202.00 (List Price $249.99) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $298.00 (List Price $399.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Your paid social operation is on fire. You know how your audience thinks, the creative process is dialed in, and the results get better every year. Leadership greenlights an expansion to Google Ads — a new channel and, critically, a new source of revenue. As it turns out, applying that same strategy really just buys you an express ticket to a very difficult conversation. Google rewards a different kind of thinking. Intent signals and campaign logic are different, and the mistakes that eat at your budget don’t always make themselves clear. Brands that apply their existing Meta playbook often find themselves looking at shiny dashboards and dull balance sheets. These six common mistakes tend to do the most damage before anyone realizes what’s happening. They’re what we see most often when ecommerce brands come to us after making the move to Google — and they can all be reversed. Mistake 1: Treating Google like a retention channel You can definitely use Google Ads to support retention and brand defense. The problem is when that becomes your whole strategy. We see this regularly with brands new to the platform who launch directly into Performance Max. Early ROAS looks strong, and everyone’s happy. But a few months in, someone asks the right question: Are we actually growing, or paying to capture purchases that were going to happen anyway? One client we worked with came to us with branded search and retargeting doing the heavy lifting inside PMax – essentially a tax on demand that had already been created elsewhere. Revenue flatlined because, while the ad spend was real, growth was not. Net-new customer acquisition requires a different setup. Shopping campaigns structured to surface products to people who have never heard of the brand. Search campaigns built around non-branded, high-intent keywords. Layered PMax configurations that limit the system from defaulting to the easiest conversions. When Google has enormous reach into new audiences, treating it purely as a closing channel leaves most of that opportunity untouched. Dig deeper: Ecommerce PPC: 4 takeaways that shape how campaigns perform Your customers search everywhere. Make sure your brand shows up. The SEO toolkit you know, plus the AI visibility data you need. Start Free Trial Get started with Mistake 2: Not knowing how to get the most out of Google’s core levers Paid social experience transfers to Google in some ways, but there are four areas where we see the biggest knowledge gaps. Search intent Ads on social media are an interrupting moment. Ads in search engines meet people as they’re looking for something you offer. This changes so much about campaign structure, ad copy, and keyword targeting. Upper-funnel terms and lower-funnel terms require different approaches, bids, and landing pages. Collapsing them into a single campaign structure is one of the fastest ways to dilute intent and waste budget on traffic that was never going to convert. Data feed optimization For ecommerce brands running Shopping and retail Performance Max, the product feed is the foundation everything else is built on. Weak titles, missing attributes, and poor categorization limit how often your products show up and who sees them. Most brands (including Google-native ones) underinvest here because the work is unglamorous. But a well-optimized feed consistently outperforms one that’s neglected after setup. Keyword research Paid search is a keyword-driven channel, which makes keyword strategy its own discipline. Understand match types, search volume, commercial intent, and the relationship between what people type and what they actually want. This takes time to develop, but brands that skip this step usually over-restrict their reach or bleed spend on irrelevant traffic. Landing pages Sending high-intent but unfamiliar visitors straight to a product page on Google often underperforms. A more engaging landing page format, like an advertorial, puts that traffic in front of context and trust before asking for the sale. Brands coming from paid social often overlook this because the funnel architecture they’re used to doesn’t require it. Dig deeper: 7 Google Ads search term filters to cut wasted spend Mistake 3: Letting operational issues interrupt campaign momentum Google’s algorithms need consistent data to make the best decisions for your account. But every time a campaign goes dark — for a day or a week — there’s a risk that the learning resets. What feels like a minor admin issue can mean weeks of degraded performance and wasted ad spend. Two types of disruption come up more than any other. Payments: Brands switching to invoice billing or changing card details mid-flight will sometimes see campaigns pause without realizing it until the damage is done. A lapsed payment that takes three days to resolve can cost far more than the bill itself once you factor in recovery time. Tracking and feed integrity: A broken pixel means no conversion data, and forces Smart Bidding to optimize blind. A feed error in Merchant Center means products disappear from Shopping and Performance Max. Neither of these failures are loud, and they tend to surface slowly as declining performance that gets misattributed. They are both preventable with automated alerts, weekly feed audits, and a person or AI agent responsible for monitoring account health between reporting cycles. The cost of oversight is low compared to what happens if you only discover issues after the fact. Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. Mistake 4: Building a campaign structure that’s too granular The instinct among detail-oriented advertisers is to segment everything because it feels like control on the surface. One campaign per product category. One ad group per keyword. Separate budgets for every audience. But Google’s automation needs data to make good decisions. When you spread your budget across too many campaigns, each one operates on thin resources and even thinner information. Smart Bidding can’t optimize effectively without sufficient conversion volume, so campaigns stuck below that threshold tend to underperform and stay there. By over-segmenting, you’ve created the appearance of precision while actually limiting the system’s ability to learn. The same logic applies to budget. Ten campaigns with a modest shared budget will almost always produce worse results than three well-funded ones. Google needs room to test, adjust, and find the traffic worth paying for. Fragmented budgets don’t allow it to do that. Build a tighter structure with fewer campaigns, clearly defined goals, and enough budget to compete. This gives the algorithm what it needs while keeping the account manageable enough to oversee effectively. Dig deeper: How to find and fix the root cause of low conversions Mistake 5: Leaving campaigns on Max Conversion Value with no ROAS targets Max Conversion Value is a Smart Bidding strategy that tells Google to spend your budget in whatever way generates the highest total conversion amount – no ceiling, no floor, no efficiency guardrail. Left unsupervised, it will find conversions, but won’t care what it costs to get them. For brands new to Google Ads, this setting can trick you into thinking you’re crushing it. Conversion value shoots up in the right direction, making the account appear healthy. The problem surfaces when you look at what you actually spent to generate that value. Without a target ROAS, Google has no efficiency quotient, and optimizes for volume, not profitability. But the fix is straightforward. Once you have enough conversion data, set a realistic target. A ROAS goal gives the algorithm a constraint, and shifts the objective from spending budget to spending it well. Targets set too aggressively too early can starve campaigns of traffic before they’ve had a chance to learn. Exercise patience, and a willingness to adjust gradually rather than chasing the ideal number from day one. Dig deeper: How each Google Ads bid strategy influences campaign success Mistake 6: Underfunding campaigns and keeping them stuck in learning When you launch a Google campaign or make a significant change (like doubling the budget), it enters a new learning period. This is the window for gathering data, testing different auctions, and calibrating toward the conversion patterns you’ve defined. It’s a normal part of how the platform works, and every campaign goes through it. But the learning period requires a minimum volume of conversions to complete. Google typically needs around 30-50 conversion events in a short window before bidding stabilizes. A campaign that’s underfunded for this milestone will stay in learning indefinitely. It’s a common trap for brands being cautious when testing Google. You run your first campaign on a small budget. CPAs are inflated, and data is inconclusive, so you don’t invest more or cut it entirely. In reality, the campaign never had what it needed to graduate out of the learning phase. You walk away from net new revenue before you’ve even scratched its surface. Funding a new campaign adequately from the start — even if it means consolidating into fewer campaigns and chasing fewer goals — gives it the best chance of learning fast and delivering accurate results sooner. See the complete picture of your search visibility. Track, optimize, and win in Google and AI search from one platform. Start Free Trial Get started with Adding Google to the mix is the right call: Here’s what to do next Diversifying away from a single ad platform is one of the smartest moves an ecommerce brand can make once it’s mature enough to fight on two fronts. It removes growth from the anchor of one platform’s algorithm changes, auction dynamics, seasonality, terms of service, etc. Adding Google to Meta also gives you access to a different kind of demand that is actively expressed rather than passively targeted, which is a meaningful advantage worth building on. These six mistakes are not reasons you should avoid Google, but a preventative guide to help you approach it with realistic expectations and enough patience to let the system learn. Treating it like a direct analog of what you’re already doing on Meta will make you leave before seeing what’s truly possible. If you’re still in the early stages of making this move, my guide on how to expand from Meta Ads into Google Ads is a practical place to start. If you’ve seen early success and are now looking for the next layer of optimization, find out how to avoid getting sucked into Google’s many automation traps. View the full article