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Stephen Miran met hedge funds and big asset managers after tariffs sparked Wall Street turmoilView the full article

As artificial intelligence gets smarter, a growing number of companies are increasing its implementation in their operations or more heavily promoting their own AI offerings. The buzzword for this is “AI first.” Duolingo is among the latest to adopt an AI-first approach. The company’s CEO, Luis von Ahn, announced the change in an all-hands email Monday, saying it would stop using contractors to do work AI can handle and only increase head count when teams have maximized all possible automation. “The way we work is fundamentally shifting. AI is becoming the default starting point,” said Duolingo’s Chief Engineering Officer Natalie Glance in an internal Slack message she shared on LinkedIn. “Start with AI for every task. No matter how small, try using an AI tool first. It won’t always be faster or better at first—but that’s how you build skill. Don’t give up if the first result is wrong.” Von Ahn, in his email, said the AI-first approach was already paying dividends, helping the company with its content creation process. “Without AI, it would take us decades to scale our content to more learners,” he wrote. Earlier this month, Shopify’s CEO Tobi Lütke told workers at that company that using AI was now a “fundamental expectation” in daily tasks. “Our task here at Shopify is to make our software unquestionably the best canvas on which to develop the best businesses of the future,” he wrote. “We do this by keeping everyone cutting-edge and bringing all the best tools to bear. . . . For that we need to be absolutely ahead.” AI’s rise in business has been forecast for years, of course. But as more companies make it a priority, there are other impacts to be considered. A scientific paper released by Cornell University late last year titled, “The Unpaid Toll: Quantifying the Public Health Impact of AI,” said the pollution from data centers powering the AI industry could lead to up to 1,300 premature deaths each year by 2030. It further estimated that public health costs related to the air pollution those centers put out are already at $20 billion per year. Data centers are nothing new. They’ve been around since the 1940s, when the University of Pennsylvania built one to support the first general-purpose digital computer, the ENIAC. But as generative AI has grown, so too has the demand for newer, more powerful centers. The power requirements of data centers in North America increased from 2,688 megawatts at the end of 2022 to 5,341 megawatts at the end of 2023, according to MIT. And demand is only growing. (Energy Secretary Chris Wright, in February, called for more nuclear power plants to meet the growing demands of AI companies.) “The demand for new data centers cannot be met in a sustainable way,” said Noman Bashir, a Computing and Climate Impact Fellow at MIT’s Climate and Sustainability Consortium. “The pace at which companies are building new data centers means the bulk of the electricity to power them must come from fossil fuel-based power plants.” This is all occurring as concerns about the environment have been deemphasized at many Big Tech firms. Companies like Walmart, Siemens, and Apple all opted against signing an open letter earlier this year reaffirming commitment to the Paris Agreement. (Duolingo, which released an environmental statement last March, did not reply to questions about how the AI-first approach might impact the company’s environmental footprint.) Meanwhile, the The President administration has dismantled dozens of climate programs in its first 100 days. And the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering overturning previous findings that classify greenhouse gas pollution as harmful, which could impact its ability to regulate carbon emissions. By 2030, Cornell forecasts, the public health burden of AI data centers will be double that of the U.S. steelmaking industry. And it could be on par with all of the cars, buses, and trucks in California. Shopify and Duolingo are hardly the only companies adopting an AI-first approach. Many companies large and small are racing to incorporate AI into all levels of their services and workflows. Financial services firm Lettuce leans into AI to assist with tax solutions. Findigs lets property managers use AI to screen rental applicants. And a real estate brokerage in Portugal is using an AI interactive real estate agent, which has already booked $100 million in sales. In the grand scheme, though, corporate use of AI is still in its infancy. ServiceNow’s Enterprise AI Maturity Index last year measured AI maturity at 4,500 businesses in 21 countries on a scale of zero to 100. The average score was 44, with only one in six companies topping 50. Part of what’s keeping that score low is the newness of the technology. Another factor is cost. (Does using AI, especially one that’s developed in house, actually save money given the cost of data centers, for instance?) But in the coming months and years, more companies are likely to move to an AI-first approach. And that will likely increase emissions, pumping more CO2 and pollution into the atmosphere, raising even more health concerns. View the full article

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Tariffs, trade, imports, exports, prioritization, energy, and dominance are all words that have been flooding the headlines lately. In this world of globalization, it is an equilibrium of exchanges, ensuring we have enough of something but not too much. We see this balance come to life in supply and demand graphs of critical minerals, often in the context of batteries or energy dominance. The supply and demand of materials required to support growing energy-related technology and sectors, such as energy storage needs, plays a crucial role in the critical minerals market, both in the United States and globally. Today, the U.S. imports a large number of batteries that are used in consumer devices, vehicles, military, and grid storage. And the demand for batteries is set to continue growing quickly based on current policy settings, estimated to rise by more than four times by 2030 and by at least seven-fold by 2035. This growth is a clear sign that the owner of the critical minerals source will hold more control over the supply chain. This is why a diversified approach to critical minerals is vital. Battery recycling is a key to that strategy—becoming a major source of domestically manufactured critical materials. China’s control in the lithium-ion battery manufacturing industry is expected to decline between now and 2034, which can be attributed to cell manufacturing operations coming online in other regions. To further highlight this shift in the global marketplace, the U.S. battery recycling market size was estimated at $374.28 million in 2023, and is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 38.1% from 2024 to 2030. Diversify and stabilize domestic supply chains Original equipment manufacturers and battery cell manufacturers are not slowing down their production timelines and the global demand for large-format batteries will continue to rise. The U.S. must capitalize on these opportunities to diversify and stabilize domestic supply chains, all while becoming a leading producer of critical minerals. Materials from recycled content will play an increasingly important part in meeting this demand, with predictions that battery recycling could meet 20-30% of lithium, nickel, and cobalt demand by 2050. Reuse of critical minerals is necessary to diversify and domesticate our supply chains and is work that is already being done. To further the need for increasing battery recycling capacity, the critical minerals market will begin to experience an undersupply in the form of black mass (the output of end-of-life and scrap batteries that have been recycled and processed that is put back into the supply chain), as early as 2026. For example, by 2030, lithium will see a supply and demand gap that is considered high risk, according to the International Energy Agency, due to price volatility and high geopolitical risk factors in the countries it’s currently sourced from. The expected growth, combined with supply gaps, is why the U.S. needs to continue its focus on enhancing our domestic critical minerals supply chains, with a heavy emphasis on recycled content. Recycling is important The U.S. has developed a large battery recycling capacity in anticipation of the large number of end-of-life batteries predicted to enter the market. Fueled by public and private investments, the United States’ battery recycling and critical mineral refinement sectors are fundamental to becoming a divergent player and seriously competing with those in Asia for the limited supplies of black mass. To encourage the build-out of battery recycling capacity, we must recognize that it aligns with domestic priorities related to the sourcing of critical materials. Strengthening our domestic supply chains will position the U.S. as a leading producer of critical minerals; it furthers the National Defense Stockpile sources to reduce the nation’s mineral reliance on foreign entities of concern; and it accelerates access to domestically sourced critical minerals, enhancing national security and global competitiveness. The largest operating mine of critical minerals is in our pockets, offices, garages, on the roads, and supplying energy to data centers and power grids. Recycling these materials at their end-of-life is a must. David Klanecky is CEO and president of Cirba Solutions. View the full article

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today it is eliminating a series of Biden-era policies that had significantly reduced underwriting standards within the 7(a) loan program. The move, aimed at preserving the financial integrity of the program and protecting taxpayer dollars, comes under the leadership of SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “The last Administration inherited a thriving 7(a) loan program but left it in critical condition – dismantling every common-sense guardrail that kept it solvent and self-sustaining,” said Administrator Loeffler. “From slashing lender fees to destroying underwriting standards, Biden’s reckless policies have triggered a surge in defaults which now threatens the viability of the program along with its risk to taxpayers. Therefore, the SBA is taking immediate action to restore prudent lending criteria, rein in risk, and save the 7(a) program before it collapses under the weight of bad policy.” The SBA’s 7(a) loan guaranty program provides government-backed capital through private lenders to small businesses unable to obtain traditional financing. By statute, the program is required to operate at “zero-subsidy,” meaning it should incur no cost to taxpayers. Historically, the program has been self-sustaining, with lender fees covering borrower defaults. Under the Biden Administration, the SBA eliminated lender fees and implemented a new underwriting standard called “Do What You Do,” which removed longstanding lending criteria. This policy shift allowed lenders to approve government-guaranteed loans for borrowers who previously might not have qualified. As a result, the program experienced a significant rise in defaults and delinquencies, and by 2024, the 7(a) loan program posted a negative cash flow of approximately $397 million — the first such deficit in 13 years. Last month, the SBA began efforts to reverse course by reinstating lender fees within the 7(a) loan program. Today, the agency announced SOP 50.10.8, a new policy that formally ends the “Do What You Do” underwriting approach and reintroduces more stringent pre-Biden standards for loan approvals. Additionally, the SBA will reinstate and streamline the Franchise Directory, which serves as a resource for lenders to determine the eligibility of certain businesses seeking SBA loans. This article, "SBA Reverses Biden-Era Loan Policies, Reinstates Strong Underwriting Standards" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When it comes to note-taking apps on the Mac, it's hard to look past Apple Notes, as it has a lot of features and has proven itself to be quite reliable. But in my workflow, I sometimes miss having a scratchpad on my Mac, something akin to Notepad on Windows. I like using tools like this for outlining my articles, jotting down notes that can turn into story ideas, or simply creating quick to-do lists for routine tasks. macOS has a built-in app called Stickies that does some of these things, but it's desperately in need of an update, as the design looks outdated and it's not ideal for handling multiple notes. I recently discovered Antinote, a beautifully designed app that does everything I need from a sticky notes app, and has many more features including creating Pomodoro timers and converting currencies, which will appeal to power users too. Antinote has a seven-day free trial, after which you can pay a one-time fee of $5 to buy the app. Speeding up your Antinote workflow Credit: Pranay Parab The first thing you should do after downloading Antinote is learn the hotkey to launch it, which is Option-A by default. Personally, I set up a custom keyboard shortcut to fire up the app whenever I need it, which you can do in Settings > Shortcuts > Global Hotkey, and that suits my workflow very well. Generally, I actually don't need to use this shortcut. Instead, I tend to pin Antinote to my screen, which means that it sits in a floating window above all my other apps. However, when you use any app in full-screen mode on your Mac, Antinote gets hidden. In these cases, using the hotkey takes you to the desktop and back to Antinote, which is a lifesaver. You should also spend a minute or two setting up Antinote to your liking, starting off in Settings > Visuals. Here, the app lets you choose if you want it to show up in the Dock, menu bar, or neither. I recently switched to Barbee for menu bar management, which keeps the chaos under control when I have a lot of menu bar apps open, and therefore I prefer to use Antinote as a menu bar app. However, I sometimes make it a 'headless' app, which means that it only shows up when I use the keyboard shortcut to launch it (another reason to have it memorized). Understanding Antinote's keywords Credit: Pranay Parab Antinote uses keywords to decide which features are enabled in any given note. You can type the word 'timer' at the top of a note and it'll show you all the commands needed to start a timer. For instance, type 'timer 5' to start a five-minute timer, or 'timer pomo' to enable a Pomodoro timer that lets you work for 25 minutes before starting a five-minute timer for breaks. Other keywords include 'math' for calculations, 'paste' to make Antinote store you clipboard history, and 'list' to start a checklist. Go to the app's settings and navigate to the Keywords tab to memorize or customize all these keywords. Navigating between notes Credit: Pranay Parab While there are plenty of keyboard shortcuts to manage your notes, I love the app's use of swipes to switch between various notes. You can use your Mac's trackpad to perform these gestures. Use a two-finger swipe towards the left to start a new note and swipe to the right to go to the previous note. This way, you can go through your entire note history by just swiping. These gestures are fast and notes open nearly instantly after you swipe in either direction. Antinote also automatically saves all of your notes in the app, but if you want to share a note with others, you can click the share button in the bottom-right corner of the app's window. This will save the note as a txt file in the folder of your choice. You can then use other apps to share the note. Unfortunately, there's no real-time collaboration feature. Interesting additional features Credit: Pranay Parab Beyond just being quick and easy to use for jotting down ideas or doing quick unit conversions, this app has a few more helpful features in its toolbox. You can take a screenshot of text and the app will uses OCR to extract it into a note. The default macOS keyboard shortcut—Command-Control-Shift-4—will let you screenshot an area on your screen. Use this to copy the screenshot to your clipboard, and paste it into Antinote. The app will automatically extract any text for you. I also like Antinote's distraction-free UI. It displays text and lets you write without showing all your available buttons until you move the cursor near those buttons. There are a few buttons at the top of the app's window and a few towards the bottom, so if you find you can't find something you need, try both locations. One of the buttons at the top is a global search button that lets you search through all of your Antinote notes, which is very useful. The app allows you to set up an auto-delete schedule, which is good if you primarily want to use it for temporary notes. In its settings, go to the Notes section to configure this. I've set it up to delete notes after a month, but you can even clear out everything in the app within a day if you want to. The app supports multiple themes, too, available under Settings > Visuals. You could make the app look more like a physical notebook, for instance, or change your canvas from unruled to ruled or grid-based. Settings > Visuals also lets you change the size of the window and the default font size to suit your needs. When I'm using my MacBook's display, I keep it at medium, but I increase the font size when the laptop is connected to a large monitor. View the full article

The company has not traditionally had a large presence in housing finance, but plans for government-related credit modernization have given it a boost. View the full article

Key Takeaways Online selling provides a wider audience reach, allowing businesses to connect with customers globally and grow their brand from anywhere.Operating online reduces overhead costs, enabling more budget allocation towards critical areas like marketing and product development.Implementing data-driven sales tactics enhances customer engagement and drives repeat business, making adaptability vital in sales strategies.Choosing the right e-commerce platform is critical; prioritize user-friendliness, customization, security, and scalability to streamline online sales processes.Effective online marketing through social media and SEO boosts visibility, attracts traffic, and is essential for increasing revenue.Analyzing and adapting sales metrics helps refine strategies and improve overall performance, ensuring continued growth in a competitive marketplace. In today’s digital age, selling online is more accessible than ever. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, the online marketplace offers endless opportunities to reach customers worldwide. You can tap into a vast audience and grow your brand from the comfort of your home. Understanding Online Selling Online selling offers small businesses unique opportunities and challenges. Familiarizing yourself with these aspects helps you develop a successful sales strategy. Benefits of Selling Online Wider Audience Reach: Online selling eliminates geographical boundaries, allowing you to connect with global customers. You tap into diverse markets, increasing your customer base. Lower Operational Costs: Operating online reduces overhead expenses associated with physical retail space. You can allocate funds toward other critical areas, such as marketing and product development. Flexible Sales Tactics: You can adapt your sales process based on customer behavior and preferences. Implementing various sales tactics enhances customer engagement and encourages repeat business. Data-Driven Decisions: Online platforms provide valuable metrics for sales performance. Analyzing sales data helps you refine your sales goals and improve your sales funnel. Enhanced Customer Interaction: You can engage with customers through social media and email campaigns, fostering relationships that drive loyalty and sales conversion. Challenges in Online Selling Intense Competition: The online marketplace is saturated with options. Standing out requires a strong value proposition and effective pricing strategy. Technical Challenges: Setting up and maintaining an e-commerce platform can be complex. Familiarity with tools and technologies is essential for managing your online sales process. Customer Trust: Building trust with potential customers is crucial. You must address objections and handle customer needs effectively to convert leads into sales. Logistics Management: Handling shipping and returns can pose challenges. Developing a robust process for managing these aspects ensures a smooth customer experience. Marketing Requires Expertise: Creating effective online marketing strategies demands knowledge in lead generation and customer relationship management (CRM). Investing in sales training can enhance your sales team’s effectiveness. Setting Up an Online Store Setting up an online store involves strategic planning and execution. Focus on selecting the right platform and designing a storefront that resonates with your audience. Choosing the Right Platform Choosing the right platform is critical for your small business. Evaluate options like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce based on your needs. Look for user-friendly interfaces, customization capabilities, and scalability. Consider integrations with payment gateways, shipping services, and customer relationship management (CRM) tools to streamline your sales process. Prioritize platforms that support both B2B sales and B2C sales, enabling flexibility for various customer types. Ensure the platform offers strong security features to protect customer data, fostering trust and encouraging repeat business. Designing Your Storefront Designing your storefront impacts customer engagement and sales conversions. Opt for a clean and attractive layout that highlights your value proposition. Use high-quality images and clear product descriptions to address customer needs. Optimize navigation for a seamless user experience, making it easy for customers to find what they’re looking for. Incorporate essential elements such as a search bar, categories, and filters to enhance user experience. Regularly update your design based on sales metrics and customer feedback, ensuring it aligns with market trends and your evolving sales goals. Create compelling call-to-action buttons to drive lead generation and improve your overall sales funnel. Marketing Your Online Business Marketing your online business effectively involves leveraging various strategies to connect with your audience and drive sales. Small businesses benefit from targeted marketing efforts that enhance customer engagement and boost revenue. Social Media Strategies Create a strong social media presence to reach potential customers. Utilize platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to promote your products and engage with your audience. Share high-quality content that aligns with your brand and encourages interaction. Consider running targeted ads to increase visibility and attract sales leads. Evaluate metrics such as engagement rates and click-through rates to gauge the effectiveness of your campaigns. Aim for consistent posting to maintain audience interest and foster community around your products. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Implementing SEO practices improves your online visibility and attracts more traffic to your website. Conduct keyword research to identify relevant terms your audience searches for, then incorporate them naturally into your product descriptions, blog posts, and meta tags. Focus on both on-page and off-page SEO techniques, such as optimizing website loading speed and building quality backlinks. Regularly update your content to align with current trends, enhancing your sales funnel by guiding visitors toward product pages. Monitor your SEO performance using tools like Google Analytics to adjust strategies as needed, ensuring you meet sales targets effectively. Managing Sales and Customer Service Managing sales and customer service effectively enables your small business to thrive in the competitive online market. Focusing on streamlined communication and payment processes enhances customer satisfaction and boosts sales. Payment Processing Options Selecting efficient payment processing options is essential for securing online sales. Look for solutions that accept various payment methods, including credit cards, digital wallets, and bank transfers. Popular services like PayPal, Stripe, and Square provide user-friendly interfaces, facilitating smooth transactions. Ensure your chosen providers are PCI-compliant to protect customer data during payments. Optimize the checkout process to reduce cart abandonment by minimizing required fields and offering guest checkout options. Utilizing these strategies can enhance the customer experience and increase your sales conversion rates. Handling Customer Inquiries Swiftly handling customer inquiries contributes to effective customer engagement. Utilize tools like live chat or chatbots on your website to address questions in real-time. Train your sales team to respond promptly and accurately, showcasing your product knowledge and effective objection handling. Implementing a robust customer relationship management (CRM) system helps track inquiries, ensuring follow-ups are timely and organized. High-quality customer service not only resolves immediate concerns but also fosters trust, paving the way for repeat business and referral sales. Maintaining clear and effective communication reinforces your commitment to customer needs and supports your overall sales strategy. Analyzing and Improving Performance Analyzing and improving performance is vital for your online sales success. Understanding your sales metrics and adapting your strategy accordingly helps optimize your business efforts. Tracking Sales Metrics Tracking sales metrics provides insight into your sales performance. Key metrics include conversion rates, average order value, customer acquisition cost, and sales growth. Utilize tools like Google Analytics or your e-commerce platform’s analytics to monitor these figures. Frequent analysis of sales reports reveals patterns and trends in customer behavior. Adjust your sales strategy based on this data to set realistic sales targets and improve overall performance. Adapting Your Strategy Adapting your strategy ensures it remains effective in a changing market. Review customer feedback regularly to understand their needs and objections. Use this information to refine your sales approach. If specific products underperform, consider upselling or cross-selling complementary items in your offerings. Your sales team can play a crucial role in this process by enhancing customer engagement through tailored sales pitches. By assessing the sales funnel and pipeline, focus on nurturing leads to increase conversion rates. Implementing a customer relationship management (CRM) system streamlines follow-ups and enhances relationship building for repeat business. Adapting your sales tactics based on data and feedback leads to sustained growth and improved profitability. Conclusion Selling online opens up a world of possibilities for you and your business. By understanding the landscape and leveraging the right tools and strategies, you can effectively reach your target audience and drive sales. Stay adaptable and responsive to market trends and customer feedback. Regularly analyze your performance metrics to refine your approach and enhance customer relationships. With the right planning and execution, you can navigate the challenges of online selling and build a successful brand that thrives in the digital marketplace. Embrace the journey and watch your business grow. Frequently Asked Questions What are the benefits of selling online for small businesses? Selling online allows small businesses to reach a global audience, reduce operational costs, and adopt flexible sales strategies. It enhances customer interaction and enables data-driven decision-making, helping businesses understand customer preferences and market trends better. What challenges do online sellers face? Online sellers encounter intense competition, technical complexities, and the need to build customer trust. They must also manage logistics effectively and develop marketing expertise to establish and grow their presence in the digital marketplace. How do I set up an online store? To set up an online store, start by selecting a suitable platform, like Shopify or WooCommerce. Focus on creating an engaging storefront with high-quality images and clear descriptions. Regularly updating your site based on customer feedback and sales metrics is crucial for success. What marketing strategies should I use for my online business? Effective marketing strategies include establishing a strong social media presence, using targeted ads, and incorporating SEO tactics. Engaging content, regular updates, and interaction with customers help boost visibility and drive sales. How do I manage customer service for an online store? For effective customer service, streamline communication and payment processes. Implement tools like live chat or chatbots to handle inquiries swiftly, and consider using a CRM system to track customer interactions and ensure timely follow-ups. What sales metrics should I track for online success? Track key metrics such as conversion rates, average order value, customer acquisition cost, and overall sales growth. Analyzing these metrics helps identify customer behavior patterns and refine sales strategies for continuous improvement. Why is SEO important for online selling? SEO enhances your online visibility, making it easier for potential customers to find your products. Optimizing your site with relevant keywords and regularly updating content is vital for improving search rankings and attracting more traffic. How can I handle logistics effectively for online sales? To manage logistics, establish reliable shipping options and clear return policies. Partner with trustworthy carriers, automate order fulfillment processes where possible, and keep customers informed about their order status to enhance their buying experience. Image Via Envato This article, "Mastering How to Sell Online: Steps to Grow Your Business and Reach Global Customers" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Completed foreclosure sales reach their highest level since the second quarter of 2023, with a 20% quarter-to-quarter increase, Auction.com said. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Strava, the superstar running/cycling app, now has a subscriber-only AI feature that will predict how fast it thinks you could run a 5K, 10K, half-marathon, and marathon. The predictions use a different method from those you might see from other sources, though. For me, Strava's predictions look less accurate than the ones I get from Garmin and Runna, but the feature is too new to say for sure how accurate they will be for everybody else. How to view your race predictions in StravaRace predictions are only available to Strava premium members. That membership runs $11.99/month or $79.99/year and also gets you mapping tools and extra analytics, like goals and fitness scores. If you’re a premium member, you can find your predictions in the mobile app by going to the You tab (bottom right when you’re looking at the home screen), then tapping Progress at the top of the screen. Right underneath your weekly mileage, you’ll see your race time predictions. The feature is currently only available on mobile, not in the web app. To have enough data for a prediction, you need to have logged at least 20 run activities in the last 24 weeks, Strava says. The predictions will update after each run, and after three days without running. In addition to telling you how fast it thinks you can run right now, Strava's AI will also tell you how this compares to your predicted time from 30 days ago. The predictions assume that your race would be on flat ground in good weather. How Strava’s predictions compare to other apps and formulasYou may have seen race predictions before—for example, on your Garmin watch or on websites like vdoto2.com. Those usually use a mathematical formula, while Strava’s new predictions are powered by “Athlete Intelligence,” which the company describes as a machine learning (ML) model. Here’s what Strava says about the feature: “Strava’s Performance Prediction feature is powered by an ML model that leverages over 100 athlete data attributes, including all-time run history and top performances. Unlike other race predictors that rely on theoretical inputs like estimated VO2 max, Strava only uses real activity data to predict race results. The system also leverages the performances of athletes with similar training histories, so estimated times are realistic and based on what has been achieved by other users with similar capabilities.” In other words, the app is doing some AI magic: looking at everybody else’s training and race times, considering yours, and guessing how you might measure up to the aggregate. I asked whether Strava had done any testing to see how well the data compares to real-life race results, but so far have not received an answer. (I’ll update if I hear back.) Certainly the predicted results I'm getting are pretty different from what I’m seeing elsewhere. I’ve been logging all my runs with Garmin and Strava for several months now, and here’s how their race time predictions compare: 5K (3.1 miles): Strava says I can run this race in 29:22 (up 21 seconds in the last 30 days); Garmin says 26:02 (down 50 seconds in the past 4 weeks) 10K (6.2 miles): Strava predicts 1:01:50 (up 5 seconds); Garmin says 55:31 (down about 90 seconds) Half marathon (13.1 miles): Strava says 2:24:57 (up 2:43); Garmin says 2:07:09 (down about three minutes) Marathon (26.2 miles): Strava says 5:04:04 (up 1:50); Garmin says 4:45:58 (down 7:44) I’m not surprised that they differ, but it’s strange that Strava thinks I’m getting slower, where Garmin thinks I’m getting faster. I don’t have any super recent race times to compare these to, but last fall I ran a 5K in 26:04. The morning of the race, Garmin predicted I’d run it in 25:50, so the Garmin was only 14 seconds too optimistic. According to that same Garmin algorithm, I’m close to that same fitness level right now, so I’d bet money that if I ran a 5K this weekend, I’d be in the low 26 minute range. I’m currently working through a 5K plan with the Runna app, and it predicts a 26:15 finish time at my current fitness. (For the other distances: 55:50, 2:08:22, 4:45:33). On a gut-check basis, this one sounds the most correct to me, at least for the 5K. I don't trust Strava's predictionsStrava’s prediction of 29:22 sounds way too slow to me. In fact, according to data I can look up in my Strava account, this past weekend I ran 5 kilometers in 30:03 (just a smidge slower than its 5K race prediction) during a five-mile run. That wasn’t a race, and I was clearly pacing myself for a five-mile effort rather than a three-mile one. Based on my 5K time of 26:04 (again, an older time, but it’s probably close to my true fitness level), the simple calculator at vdoto2.com thinks I could do a 10K in 54:10, a half in 2:00:23, and a full marathon in 4:07:43. Calculators tend to be a little too optimistic, especially if you put in a shorter race time and ask it to extrapolate out to long distances. So I wouldn’t expect to run a 4:07 marathon anytime soon. Judging from forums like the r/Strava subreddit, the jury is still out on accuracy. Here’s somebody who ran a 10K in 56:34, but the app predicts 57:58—a number they just beat by almost a minute and a half. On the other hand, several runners in this thread say that their Strava predictions seem pretty accurate. Only running a race will tell you for sure. View the full article

Key Takeaways Convenient Culinary Exploration: Food truck finders simplify the process of discovering diverse food options, making it easier to locate gourmet meals on the go.Support for Small Businesses: Using food truck finders promotes local small businesses by increasing their visibility and driving foot traffic to their mobile operations.User-Friendly Features: Many food truck finders include interactive maps, search filters, and user reviews to enhance the experience for food enthusiasts.Mobile Accessibility: The best food truck finder apps offer mobile-friendly designs, enabling users to access information anytime and anywhere.Catering to Preferences: Users can filter results by cuisine type and operating hours, ensuring they find the perfect food truck to satisfy their cravings.Community Engagement: Food truck finders often highlight local small businesses, fostering a sense of community and encouraging customer loyalty. Food trucks have transformed the culinary scene, offering diverse flavors on the go. Whether you’re craving gourmet tacos or artisanal ice cream, these mobile kitchens bring delicious options right to your neighborhood. But with so many trucks rolling around, how do you find the best ones? That’s where a food truck finder comes in. Overview of Food Truck Finder Food truck finders streamline the search for gourmet meals on wheels, providing a crucial resource for food enthusiasts. These platforms help you locate nearby food trucks serving everything from artisanal ice cream to gourmet tacos. Food truck finders consolidate information, enabling you to see daily locations, schedules, and menu offerings in one place. Using a food truck finder increases your chances of discovering unique flavors while supporting small businesses. Many food trucks operate without a fixed storefront, relying on mobility to reach diverse customers. By utilizing a food truck finder, you boost visibility for these small businesses, driving traffic to them and enhancing your food exploration experience. Food truck finders often include user reviews, ratings, and photos, helping you make informed decisions. This accessibility makes it easier to decide which small business to support during lunchtime or dinner. Discovering food trucks through a dedicated platform contributes to the vibrancy of the local retail scene while satisfying your culinary cravings. Features of Food Truck Finder Food truck finders offer several key features that enhance your experience as a small business owner or food enthusiast. User Interface and Experience User interfaces prioritize simplicity and efficiency, ensuring smooth navigation. You find intuitive layouts that guide you effortlessly through various sections, whether you’re seeking daily locations or specific menus. Visual elements, such as interactive maps and vibrant images, provide instant engagement, helping you quickly identify appealing options. A mobile-friendly design allows easy access from any device, making it convenient to browse on the go. Search and Filter Options Search functions streamline your quest, enabling quick identification of food trucks that fit your preferences. You can filter results by cuisine type, location, and operating hours, ensuring you find exactly what you’re looking for. Specific criteria like “open now” or “vegan options” narrow down choices, catering to diverse customer needs. These targeted options not only save time but also enhance the ability to discover unique flavors in your local retail scene, supporting small businesses in reaching the right audience. Popular Food Truck Finder Apps Food truck finder apps enhance your experience by helping you discover mobile eateries efficiently. These apps offer valuable resources for food enthusiasts and small businesses alike, connecting vibrant culinary options with a broader audience. App 1: Features and Benefits Find Food Trucks: This app provides a straightforward interface, enabling users to locate food trucks based on their current location. Interactive Maps: It uses GPS technology to deliver real-time locations, allowing for easy navigation and quick access to your favorite trucks. User Reviews: It includes customer feedback, enhancing your decision-making process when exploring new flavors. Support for Small Businesses: The app features small business owners, showcasing their stories and promoting local storefront alternatives. App 2: Features and Benefits Cuisine Filters: This app allows you to filter trucks by cuisine type, helping you find specific dishes that satisfy your cravings. Notifications: Users receive notifications about their favorite trucks’ locations and daily specials, ensuring you don’t miss out on special offerings. Engaging Photos: The app showcases vibrant images of food, enticing you to explore different options and support local retailers. Community Focus: It emphasizes local small businesses, promoting their unique contributions to the food scene while encouraging community engagement. How to Choose the Best Food Truck Finder Selecting an effective food truck finder involves several key considerations to ensure you connect with vibrant small businesses and enhance your culinary experience. User Interface Choose a platform with a clean, intuitive design that allows for easy navigation. A user-friendly interface keeps your experience smooth and encourages exploration. Location Accuracy Opt for a food truck finder that provides real-time GPS updates. Accurate location tracking ensures you’ll find gourmet food trucks where they’re supposed to be, which supports small businesses in reaching customers more effectively. Cuisine Variety Look for platforms that allow you to filter options based on cuisine type. This feature helps you discover diverse offerings from various local eateries, enhancing your culinary journey. Reviews and Ratings Seek out food truck finders that feature user-generated reviews and ratings. This feedback provides insights into food quality and service, helping you make informed decisions that benefit both you and the small businesses you support. Visual Engagement Select a finder with engaging food images. Captivating visuals can entice your taste buds and showcase the unique offerings of local food trucks, promoting vibrant retail experiences. Community Engagement Prioritize platforms that emphasize collaboration with local businesses. Support mechanisms, such as featuring small business stories and highlighting special events, foster a sense of community and enhance brand loyalty. Notifications and Specials Consider food truck finders that send notifications about favorite trucks and special deals. This feature ensures you stay updated on bustling storefronts and exclusive offerings, optimizing your search for fantastic food options. Conclusion Finding the perfect food truck has never been easier thanks to food truck finders. These tools not only help you discover diverse culinary delights but also support local businesses striving to make their mark. With user-friendly interfaces and real-time updates, you can explore the vibrant food truck scene in your area effortlessly. By utilizing the right app, you’ll enjoy a seamless experience that connects you with unique flavors tailored to your preferences. Whether you’re craving gourmet tacos or artisanal ice cream, a food truck finder will enhance your culinary adventures while fostering community engagement. So get ready to indulge in delicious meals on wheels and support your local food truck culture. Frequently Asked Questions What are food trucks? Food trucks are mobile eateries that sell a variety of food options, from gourmet meals to sweet treats. They travel to different locations, making it easy for people to enjoy diverse culinary experiences on the go. How can I find food trucks near me? You can find food trucks near you by using food truck finder apps. These platforms provide real-time locations, menus, and schedules, helping you discover the best food trucks in your area. What features should I look for in a food truck finder? When choosing a food truck finder, look for a user-friendly interface, accurate location tracking, variety of cuisines, user reviews, engaging visuals, and notifications for specials or favorite trucks. Are food truck finder apps beneficial for small businesses? Yes, food truck finder apps support small businesses by enhancing their visibility, connecting them with customers, and showcasing their stories. This helps reach a wider audience and promotes community engagement. What types of food can I find on food trucks? Food trucks offer an extensive array of cuisines, including gourmet tacos, artisanal ice cream, BBQ, vegan options, and more. Each truck usually specializes in unique dishes, allowing food enthusiasts to explore diverse flavors. Image Via Envato This article, "Discover Local Delights with the Ultimate Food Truck Finder for Culinary Adventures" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Key Takeaways Convenient Culinary Exploration: Food truck finders simplify the process of discovering diverse food options, making it easier to locate gourmet meals on the go.Support for Small Businesses: Using food truck finders promotes local small businesses by increasing their visibility and driving foot traffic to their mobile operations.User-Friendly Features: Many food truck finders include interactive maps, search filters, and user reviews to enhance the experience for food enthusiasts.Mobile Accessibility: The best food truck finder apps offer mobile-friendly designs, enabling users to access information anytime and anywhere.Catering to Preferences: Users can filter results by cuisine type and operating hours, ensuring they find the perfect food truck to satisfy their cravings.Community Engagement: Food truck finders often highlight local small businesses, fostering a sense of community and encouraging customer loyalty. Food trucks have transformed the culinary scene, offering diverse flavors on the go. Whether you’re craving gourmet tacos or artisanal ice cream, these mobile kitchens bring delicious options right to your neighborhood. But with so many trucks rolling around, how do you find the best ones? That’s where a food truck finder comes in. Overview of Food Truck Finder Food truck finders streamline the search for gourmet meals on wheels, providing a crucial resource for food enthusiasts. These platforms help you locate nearby food trucks serving everything from artisanal ice cream to gourmet tacos. Food truck finders consolidate information, enabling you to see daily locations, schedules, and menu offerings in one place. Using a food truck finder increases your chances of discovering unique flavors while supporting small businesses. Many food trucks operate without a fixed storefront, relying on mobility to reach diverse customers. By utilizing a food truck finder, you boost visibility for these small businesses, driving traffic to them and enhancing your food exploration experience. Food truck finders often include user reviews, ratings, and photos, helping you make informed decisions. This accessibility makes it easier to decide which small business to support during lunchtime or dinner. Discovering food trucks through a dedicated platform contributes to the vibrancy of the local retail scene while satisfying your culinary cravings. Features of Food Truck Finder Food truck finders offer several key features that enhance your experience as a small business owner or food enthusiast. User Interface and Experience User interfaces prioritize simplicity and efficiency, ensuring smooth navigation. You find intuitive layouts that guide you effortlessly through various sections, whether you’re seeking daily locations or specific menus. Visual elements, such as interactive maps and vibrant images, provide instant engagement, helping you quickly identify appealing options. A mobile-friendly design allows easy access from any device, making it convenient to browse on the go. Search and Filter Options Search functions streamline your quest, enabling quick identification of food trucks that fit your preferences. You can filter results by cuisine type, location, and operating hours, ensuring you find exactly what you’re looking for. Specific criteria like “open now” or “vegan options” narrow down choices, catering to diverse customer needs. These targeted options not only save time but also enhance the ability to discover unique flavors in your local retail scene, supporting small businesses in reaching the right audience. Popular Food Truck Finder Apps Food truck finder apps enhance your experience by helping you discover mobile eateries efficiently. These apps offer valuable resources for food enthusiasts and small businesses alike, connecting vibrant culinary options with a broader audience. App 1: Features and Benefits Find Food Trucks: This app provides a straightforward interface, enabling users to locate food trucks based on their current location. Interactive Maps: It uses GPS technology to deliver real-time locations, allowing for easy navigation and quick access to your favorite trucks. User Reviews: It includes customer feedback, enhancing your decision-making process when exploring new flavors. Support for Small Businesses: The app features small business owners, showcasing their stories and promoting local storefront alternatives. App 2: Features and Benefits Cuisine Filters: This app allows you to filter trucks by cuisine type, helping you find specific dishes that satisfy your cravings. Notifications: Users receive notifications about their favorite trucks’ locations and daily specials, ensuring you don’t miss out on special offerings. Engaging Photos: The app showcases vibrant images of food, enticing you to explore different options and support local retailers. Community Focus: It emphasizes local small businesses, promoting their unique contributions to the food scene while encouraging community engagement. How to Choose the Best Food Truck Finder Selecting an effective food truck finder involves several key considerations to ensure you connect with vibrant small businesses and enhance your culinary experience. User Interface Choose a platform with a clean, intuitive design that allows for easy navigation. A user-friendly interface keeps your experience smooth and encourages exploration. Location Accuracy Opt for a food truck finder that provides real-time GPS updates. Accurate location tracking ensures you’ll find gourmet food trucks where they’re supposed to be, which supports small businesses in reaching customers more effectively. Cuisine Variety Look for platforms that allow you to filter options based on cuisine type. This feature helps you discover diverse offerings from various local eateries, enhancing your culinary journey. Reviews and Ratings Seek out food truck finders that feature user-generated reviews and ratings. This feedback provides insights into food quality and service, helping you make informed decisions that benefit both you and the small businesses you support. Visual Engagement Select a finder with engaging food images. Captivating visuals can entice your taste buds and showcase the unique offerings of local food trucks, promoting vibrant retail experiences. Community Engagement Prioritize platforms that emphasize collaboration with local businesses. Support mechanisms, such as featuring small business stories and highlighting special events, foster a sense of community and enhance brand loyalty. Notifications and Specials Consider food truck finders that send notifications about favorite trucks and special deals. This feature ensures you stay updated on bustling storefronts and exclusive offerings, optimizing your search for fantastic food options. Conclusion Finding the perfect food truck has never been easier thanks to food truck finders. These tools not only help you discover diverse culinary delights but also support local businesses striving to make their mark. With user-friendly interfaces and real-time updates, you can explore the vibrant food truck scene in your area effortlessly. By utilizing the right app, you’ll enjoy a seamless experience that connects you with unique flavors tailored to your preferences. Whether you’re craving gourmet tacos or artisanal ice cream, a food truck finder will enhance your culinary adventures while fostering community engagement. So get ready to indulge in delicious meals on wheels and support your local food truck culture. Frequently Asked Questions What are food trucks? Food trucks are mobile eateries that sell a variety of food options, from gourmet meals to sweet treats. They travel to different locations, making it easy for people to enjoy diverse culinary experiences on the go. How can I find food trucks near me? You can find food trucks near you by using food truck finder apps. These platforms provide real-time locations, menus, and schedules, helping you discover the best food trucks in your area. What features should I look for in a food truck finder? When choosing a food truck finder, look for a user-friendly interface, accurate location tracking, variety of cuisines, user reviews, engaging visuals, and notifications for specials or favorite trucks. Are food truck finder apps beneficial for small businesses? Yes, food truck finder apps support small businesses by enhancing their visibility, connecting them with customers, and showcasing their stories. This helps reach a wider audience and promotes community engagement. What types of food can I find on food trucks? Food trucks offer an extensive array of cuisines, including gourmet tacos, artisanal ice cream, BBQ, vegan options, and more. Each truck usually specializes in unique dishes, allowing food enthusiasts to explore diverse flavors. Image Via Envato This article, "Discover Local Delights with the Ultimate Food Truck Finder for Culinary Adventures" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Mac users can put any widget on their desktop. Windows puts widgets into a dedicated area that's not really customizable and curates headlines from the absolute worst places on the web. What if you just want a few simple pieces of information to show up over your wallpaper? A free application called BeWidgets lets you do just that. This free application lets you set up widgets featuring the weather, date, time, stock prices, and app shortcuts. It also lets you customize them to look however you want. To get started, install the application; you can add a widget immediately. Give it a name, just so you can keep track of it, then choose what information you'd like the widget to show by using the drop down. Credit: Justin Pot You can manually drag the widget anywhere you want on the desktop. The real power here comes when you click the Customize button. Here, you can change everything about how it looks. This means you can change the size, position, font, and backdrop for the widget. You can also customize the format. Credit: Justin Pot So, for the weather widget, you can choose which city to show the weather for and whether you want Celsius or Fahrenheit. You can also get a 24-hour forecast. For the stocks widget, you can choose which stock or currency you want to keep track of. For time, you can choose whether you want a 24- or 12-hour time. And you can customize the date format to work the way you're used to. The real fun comes from digging in the settings and tweaking everything to look just the way you want. There are other Windows applications that let you add widgets: Rainlender is a popular application for the job, albeit an aging one that can be overwhelming for beginners. The reason I like BeWidgets is a balance of simplicity and customization. You can only add certain kinds of information, sure, but you can make that information look however you want with just a few clicks. Check if out if you want to add a clock or stock to your desktop. View the full article

GoDaddy's Agency Program offers a high-intent source of leads for freelancers and web agencies The post GoDaddy Is Offering Leads To Freelancers And Agencies appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Delivery group declines to update its outlook for the year owing to macroeconomic ‘uncertainty’View the full article

There was once a time when LG was among the major smartphone manufacturers. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case for a while now: LG gave up on the phone business in April 2021, reducing the choices Android customers have—especially in the United States. It was a shame, since LG made some cool phones back in the day. The V20, for example, included a thin secondary display along the top of the device, while the LG Wing sported a full-size second display that swiveled out—a design that is still unique in the smartphone market (if not particularly practical). The company produced a number of smartphones in its time—some good, some great, some forgettable—but over the last four years, we've been deprived any new LG smartphones. That being said, the company didn't leave its customers out to dry: LG guaranteed eligible smartphones three years of updates. That guarantee seems to have worked out, since we're now four years past LG's retirement from the smartphone market. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, as is the case with LG's software support. RIP LG updatesAs reported by Android Authority, LG is planning to shut down the servers it uses to issue software updates. Once that happens, you won't be able to open your LG smartphone's settings app and install the latest update your device supports. It's not just the update servers, either. LG will also be closing down LG Bridge, software that helps you back your phone up to your PC, as well as install updates. This all goes down on Monday, June 30—just about two months from the time of this article. If you have any LG devices that have outstanding updates, you should consider updating them as soon as possible. Of course, LG phones from 2021 aren't getting updates for Android 15, or the upcoming Android 16. LG was issuing updates for versions of Android 12 and Android 13, depending on the phone in question. Still, these updates are important, since they contain the latest security patches for your particular smartphone. If you're still using these devices, make sure to install these updates to keep your phone protected—and be aware that no future security updates are coming to protect you from future vulnerabilities. To that last point, it might be time to start thinking about a new phone if you haven't done so already. While this last update should protect you for some time, the longer you use a smartphone with no future updates on the way, the greater the chances you'll expose yourself to those future vulnerabilities. If you're in need of an upgrade, take a look at PCMag's list of the best Android smartphones for 2025—all of which will continue to receive the latest feature and security updates. How to update your LG phoneTo update your LG phone, open Settings > System > System updates > Update LG software, then tap Check now for update. If an update is available, tap Install. View the full article

The portfolio of offerings includes a buy-before-you-sell product as well as loans geared toward small-business owners, gig workers and real estate investors. View the full article

Considering how much work goes into buying a home, it’s surprising how many people view it as a temporary situation. The concept of the “property ladder”—buying a small, affordable “starter” house just to build equity and trade up to a larger home, and then doing it again until you’re living in some kind of mansion—makes people think of their homes as investments in their future instead of a place to live their lives. It’s true that buying a house can be a complex decision, and buyer’s remorse is a real situation that almost anyone can find themselves experiencing—and sometimes selling your home is the best decision you can make. But there are plenty of bad reasons to sell, especially if you’re comfortable and happy in the property, or you’ve put a lot of work and money into making it your own. If you’ve got the itch to call up Realtors and list your house, ask yourself if you’re doing it for one of these reasons—and then maybe don’t make that call. You’re exhaustedYou bought a house and learned the dark secret of owning a property: You have to maintain it. Home maintenance can be a lot—in fact, about 28% of people who report buyer’s remorse about their house cite the time and cost of home maintenance as the primary reason. Anyone who’s owned a home knows that the problems seem endless. You fix the roof, and the water heater goes. You replace the water heater, and your air conditioner dies. Selling the house might feel like a weight lifting off your shoulders. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that any property you buy after selling this house will also require maintenance—maintenance you’ll either be doing yourself, or paying someone else to do through HOA or condo fees. Selling your current home won’t remove the need for maintenance and repairs. Even going from an older home to a newer one doesn’t guarantee you won’t have a lot of maintenance to do—in a survey conducted by insurance company Hippo, 60% of new construction homeowners spent more on maintenance than they expected. If you’re happy with your current home except for the maintenance work, spacing out and planning the work can help make it more manageable. And paying for a home warranty service (or just hiring a handyman) can give you a break from the constant effort, at least. Timing the marketWhen you buy a house, the expectation is that it will increase in value over time—while you’re simultaneously increasing your equity in it. Normally this is a long-term situation, but sometimes the real estate market in your area heats up rapidly, and you hatch a plan: You’ll sell at the high, rent for a year, then buy a house again when the market dips. That’s called "timing the market," and it’s usually a bad reason to sell a house you otherwise love. “I worked with a couple that had bought themselves a very beautiful house in a quiet neighborhood just outside the city,” says real estate expert and owner of Fast Home Buyer California YK Kuliev. “They had spent years waiting for it to get just right for them—custom kitchen, landscaped yard, the whole deal. They saw headline after headline about record-breaking sale prices, and thought to themselves: ‘Let's cash out now while prices are at the top.’ They did it and made really good money, but they did not have a new home lined up. They figured they would rent for a year, wait for the market to cool down, then buy again. Jump to 18 months later, and they are priced out of the very neighborhoods they used to call home. They scoured for a much smaller house in a much less desirable location and none of those personal touches built up over years in their prior home. That attempt to time the market cost them their dream home.” Not only does timing the market risk a home you’re comfortable in, the profits are often illusory because you wind up paying rent—and often more of it, and for a longer period, than anticipated. “They think they’re going to cash out at the perfect moment,” notes Jessica Robinson, co-owner of Family Nest North Central Florida. “But forget they still have to live somewhere after they sell.” The one that got awayOne of the most frustrating aspects of buying a house is the competition—the other buyers who swoop in with all-cash offers, or offers way over list price. Bidding wars can quickly put your dream home out of your financial reach. And sometimes you see a house you’d love to buy, but it isn’t on the market when you’re ready to dive in. But if the dream home you were denied suddenly becomes available, selling your current home to jump at it can be a huge mistake for a variety of reasons: Sweat equity. If you’ve put time, effort, and money into renovating your current home, you might not get a return on those investments. Financial loss. If you haven’t lived in your current home for at least two years, prepared to get smacked with some gnarly capital gains taxes. Your mortgage lender might have a penalty for paying off the loan too soon. And you’ll be paying all the fees and closing costs, eroding any small gain you might have made in the home’s equity. Disappointment. Dream homes don’t always work out the way you expect. A house that looks superficially ideal might turn out to have hidden problems, or you might not use the amenities as often as you think you will—or at all. If the only reason you want to sell your house is a form of FOMO, it’s probably going to be a mistake. You’re boredBuying and moving into a new house is an exciting experience. There’s the thrill of finding the right house, the joy of starting a new chapter in your life, and then the buzz of activity as you decorate, renovate, and get to know your neighborhood. But eventually you settle in, finish the projects, and fall into a routine. For some people, that leads to a sense of boredom with the house—and a regrettable decision to sell just because the excitement has faded. Robinson has seen this firsthand. “I’ll never forget a couple I worked with who sold their home because they were ‘just incredibly bored’ with their house,” she says. “It was a beautiful house, great neighborhood—but after a few years, they just felt restless.” It was a predictably terrible idea. “They rushed to list without a solid plan and ended up in a smaller, more expensive home that needed a mountain of repairs,” she explains. “Within six months, they admitted they missed their old place and regretted the whole thing.” Kuliev also recalls one client who simply wanted ‘a change of scenery.’ “She thought a move to a trendier area would be ‘fun,’” he recalls. “She listed her condo, sold it quickly, and bought a loft in a newer development. Six months later, her commute was longer, the community felt more impersonal, and those HOA fees were much heftier. She confessed that she missed the coziness and character of her old place. That boredom cost tens of thousands in closing costs, fees, and an emotional toll none had expected.” View the full article

The real estate industry is at the forefront of a lobbying blitz to sway Congress to preserve the carried interest tax break that President Donald The President wants to abolish in a giant tax bill pending in Congress. View the full article

Google's John Mueller answers a question about diluting the impact of anchor text by using it sitewide. The post Google On Diluting SEO Impact Through Anchor Text Overuse appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

The subsidiary of Amerant Bank trimmed 58 of its mortgage-related employees, leaving just 20 workers to focus exclusively on Florida-based customers. View the full article

More Android users will be able to use their phones to verify their identities instead of their drivers licenses or passports, as Google Wallet is expanding its digital ID features to more U.S. states and the UK. In an April 29 blog post, Google announced that residents in Arkansas, Montana, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia will soon be able to add their government-issued IDs—drivers licenses and state identification cards—to Google Wallet. This feature has already rolled out for those who live in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and New Mexico. ID pass, Google Wallet's digital passport feature, will also be expanded to UK residents. What you can do with Google Wallet's digital IDsDigital IDs (in Google Wallet or state-specific apps) can already be used to get through TSA checkpoints at supported airports as long as they are REAL ID complaint. Google Wallet recently added an ID pass feature for U.S. passports, which are also accepted by TSA and can be used in lieu of a REAL ID. With the latest update, residents of Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, and New Mexico will be able to to use digital IDs stored in Google Wallet at the DMV. Google is also expanding options for using your digital ID online, such as for recovering your Amazon account, accessing online health services through CVS and MyChart, and verifying profiles on digital platforms like Uber. Some apps already permit digital IDs for identity verification, and Google plans to integrate Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) age verification across devices and services that access digital IDs via Google Wallet. For users in the UK, digital IDs in Google Wallet can be used to verify Railcard eligibility. Google Wallet will soon be available in 50 additional countries for storing digital passes (like tickets), though Google has not yet indicated where. How to add a digital ID to Google WalletTo add your state-issued ID to Google Wallet, open the app on your Android device and tap the + icon > ID > Driver's license or state ID. You can also add your passport to ID pass via the + icon > ID > ID pass. Hit Get Started and follow the in-app prompts to scan your passport and face for approval. Finally, while a digital ID is convenient, it isn't a full replacement for your physical ID card or passport. You may still need to present these when traveling or using certain services, so you should still carry them with you. View the full article

No, this article was not written with AI. You know how you can tell? Because it’s got a bit of personality (mine), and even though it’s about artificial intelligence (arguably one of the most boring topics on the planet, in my opinion), this doesn’t read like a computer generated it. (Just me, standing at my very-expensive standing desk, writing away on my laptop!) Which gets us to the reason for this article: a new study on AI. Researchers from Cornell University looked at how Western-centric AI models provide writing suggestions to users from different cultural backgrounds. The study, titled “AI Suggestions Homogenize Writing Toward Western Styles and Diminish Cultural Nuances,” included 118 participants from India and the United States. And it found that when Indians and Americans used AI writing assistance, it often came at the expense of the Indians in the group. Why, you ask? Even though the tools helped both groups write faster, the Indian writers had to keep correcting the AI’s suggestions, resulting in a smaller productivity boost. One reason for that is because AI tools like ChatGPT are primarily developed by American tech companies, which are powered by large language models that don’t contain all the linguistic nuances of 85% of the world’s population, who live in the Global South and are using AI-writing tools. (The Global South is defined as those countries primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, often considered developing or less developed than their northern counterparts in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.) Study researchers had the two groups write about cultural topics like food and holidays. Half used an AI-writing assistant that gave autocomplete suggestions. The writing samples showed that the Indian participants kept 25% of the suggestions while Americans kept only 19%, but also found the Indian writers made significantly more modifications to those suggestions, rendering them less helpful. For example, when some of the Indians wrote about food, a common suggestion included pizza. Or when they wrote about holidays, the AI tool suggested Christmas. In short, this study shows AI isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and benefits some users more than others. “This is one of the first studies, if not the first, to show that the use of AI in writing could lead to cultural stereotyping and language homogenization,” according one of the study’s authors, Aditya Vashistha, an assistant professor of information science. “People start writing similarly to others, and that’s not what we want. One of the beautiful things about the world is the diversity that we have.” The study’s main author, Dhruv Agarwal, a doctoral student in the field of information science, said that although the technology brings a lot of value into people’s lives, “for that value to be equitable and for these products to do well in these markets, tech companies need to focus on cultural aspects, rather than just language aspects.” View the full article

Consumers are only just starting to feel pain from The President’s Liberation Day tariff spree. Amazon founder and chairman Jeff Bezos, however, may be starting to feel something else from the tariffs: regret. When a report emerged overnight claiming that Amazon would start displaying tariff costs on its main page, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded by torching Amazon in a Tuesday morning press briefing. (According to CNN, The President had already personally chewed Bezos out by then.) Despite everything that Bezos has done to support The President in his second term, the administration just made it crystal-clear that presidential support under The President only flows in one direction. Evidently, no amount of fealty was ever going to save Amazon from The President’s wrath if throwing Bezos under the bus ever proved advantageous in the slightest. Although Amazon strongly disputes the initial report about displaying tariff costs (“This was never approved and is not going to happen.”), such a move would not be unheard of. Other businesses, including Fabletics and Temu, have been introducing “tariff surcharges,” alerting customers in letters, and adding tariff prices to websites and bills. Meanwhile, Amazon has reportedly been hurting more than most under The President’s 145% tariffs on China. Leavitt did not seem to think Amazon was justified in potentially joining those other companies, though. Speaking on behalf of The President, she described it as “a hostile and political act by Amazon.” REPORTER: Amazon will soon display a number next to the price of each product that shows how much the The President tariffs are adding. Isn't that a perfect demonstration that it's the American consumer who is paying for these policies? LEAVITT: This is a hostile and political act by Amazon. [image or embed] — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) April 29, 2025 at 9:03 AM “It’s not a surprise,” Leavitt continued, “because, as Reuters recently wrote, Amazon is partnered with a Chinese propaganda arm.” She held up a printout of the article, about an Amazon project known as China Books, to prove it was real—though “recent” is a bit of a stretch, considering the article came out in 2021. This broadside seems designed to provide a handy talking point about why Amazon is, in this administration’s apparent view, in cahoots with China against The President. Surely, Amazon’s reported stab at pricing transparency is an act of political hostility and sabotage, Leavitt’s comments suggest, not an accurate temperature-read of a climate in which consumer confidence has already plunged to its lowest levels since peak pandemic 2020. It’s obvious why the administration would want to paint Amazon as the villain in this situation. An April survey of 400 U.S. company leaders by the research firm Zilliant found 44% of businesses plan to pass tariff costs onto consumers. A company of Amazon’s size and stature leading the charge would give any companies who remain on the fence permission to go for it. If Amazon is displaying tariff costs, showing customers who to blame, it becomes standard procedure. What is far less obvious, though, is why Bezos ever worked so hard to get on The President’s good side in the first place. During The President’s first term, Bezos had a contentious relationship with the president. The President would frequently affix “Amazon” to the title of the newspaper Bezos owns, The Washington Post, when speaking about the paper after he received unfavorable coverage. The implication was that the paper was little more than a lobbying arm for Bezos’s personal business interests. Bezos even argued in a 2019 court case that The President’s bias against Amazon had cost it a chance to win a $10 billion Pentagon contract. In The President’s second term, though, past has not been prologue. Bezos’s sharp pivot toward MAGA began last October with his out-of-nowhere announcement that the Post would not be endorsing a candidate in the November election. Though he cited the move as a way to avoid “a perception of bias at a time when many Americans don’t believe the media,” the last-minute announcement only fostered a perception of bias—at the Post, specifically. The non-endorsement reportedly cost the paper over 250,000 subscribers. At the time, Bezos could have plausibly still maintained a sheen of neutrality. He has only since further positioned himself firmly in The President’s corner, though. In the past few months, he’s drastically scaled back DEI policies at Amazon, donated a million dollars to The President’s inauguration fund (and prominently attended it), dined at Mar-a-Lago, and overhauled the Post’s op-ed section in support of two The President-friendly pillars: personal liberties and free markets—a move that reportedly cost the paper another 75,000 subscribers. In Bezos’s most sycophantic-seeming gesture of all, Amazon even shelled out $40 million for a documentary on Melania The President. The ostensible reason for this red carpet rollout is that Bezos is a businessman, first and foremost. In a December interview at The New York Times‘s DealBook Summit, he explained why he was more optimistic about The President’s second term: “He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. If I can help do that, I’m going to help him.” But if an interest in deregulation was all that animated Bezos’s enthusiasm, he probably wouldn’t have been so ostentatious in his support of the president and his policies. What’s more likely is that he made a cold calculation that an if-you-can’t-beat-‘em-join-‘em ethos and some financial support could neutralize the threat of The President’s antagonism. If so, it was a critical miscalculation. Even if it weren’t obvious from The President’s entire political life that loyalty is a one-way street, it should have been clear that he’d only view with contempt those who have suddenly decided to butter him up (“Everybody wants to be my friend,” The President crowed in December, as business leaders including Bezos began to kiss the ring.) What is the hypothetical difference between where Bezos finds himself today—with the administration smearing Amazon as Chinese propagandists over a story that the company thoroughly denies—had he either opposed The President or maintained an air of neutrality? There’s no way of knowing. Whatever it is, though, it’s probably a better position than The President continuing to antagonize him while the anti-The President crowd occasionally boycotts his company. Best of luck with the Melania doc, though. View the full article

Meta tags are snippets of HTML code that live in your webpage’s <head> section. Your website’s visitors won’t see them. But search engines, browsers, and social media platforms can see and use them. You can think of meta tags as a way to tell Google and other search engines about what your page contains and how they should display it in search results. Some meta tags are more important than others. In fact, there are really only a couple of meta tags you need to worry about. I’ll explain exactly what these are below and how you can optimize yours. The Components of a Meta Tag Here’s what a basic meta tag looks like: <meta name="description" content="This is a description of my webpage that should appear in search results."> Let’s break down this structure: meta tells browsers and search engines that this is a meta tag name is an attribute that defines what type of information you’re providing “description” tells us it’s the description meta tag content contains the actual information Some meta tags use different attributes. For example, the charset meta tag looks like this: <meta charset="UTF-8"> And the viewport meta tag uses the following structure: <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> You don’t need to memorize these formats. Most content management systems (like WordPress, Shopify, and Wix) handle the technical implementation for you. What matters is understanding which meta tags are important for SEO and how to optimize them for better visibility online. Important note: I’m going to discuss a few elements that are not strictly speaking “meta tags.” Tags like <title> are HTML elements in their own right, not meta tags by definition. But they do provide search engines with useful information. Plus, they’re often referred to in the same way as other meta tags. So I’ve covered them here anyway. But for the sake of accuracy, if it’s not within theHTML element, it’s not a true meta tag. Why Should You Care About Meta Tags? Let me make it clear early on: Your meta tags are not the most important aspect of your site’s SEO. They matter, but there are usually other areas you can likely optimize for greater impact. But optimizing them won’t hurt your SEO. And in some cases it can actually make a big difference. They Can Increase Your Click-Through Rates Your title tag and meta description are the primary elements people see in search results before they even visit your site. Think of them as your website’s elevator pitch. You have just a few seconds to convince someone to click through. A compelling title and description can be the difference between a click on your result or your competitor’s. By writing meta descriptions that address user intent and include a clear call to action, you can increase your click-through rates (CTRs). This means more traffic without necessarily needing higher rankings. But: Google often chooses its own titles to display, and even more commonly chooses its own descriptions. That’s because it puts a focus on displaying a description relevant to the search query. For example, here’s a result that displays our chosen meta description for a post about backlinks: And here’s the description Google displays for that same post but for a different query: So while you can improve your CTRs by optimizing some meta tags, it’s not always going to have measurable results. They Give Instructions to Search Engines Want to prevent a page from appearing in search results? There’s a meta tag for that. Need to tell Google which version of a page is the original? There’s a meta tag for that too. These technical meta tags help avoid common SEO issues like duplicate content, indexing of private pages, or incorrect international targeting. They Improve the User Experience Meta tags like viewport and charset ensure your website displays correctly across different devices and browsers. While these may not directly impact your search rankings, they certainly impact user experience. This ultimately affects how long people stay on your site and whether they convert. They Control Social Sharing When someone shares your page on Facebook, X/Twitter, or LinkedIn, specialized meta tags determine how your content appears. These are called Open Graph or Twitter Card tags. Without these tags, social platforms might pull random text or images from your page. This can lead to unappealing or confusing social snippets. They’re One of the Easiest SEO Elements to Optimize Unlike many areas of your site that require significant time and resources to optimize, you can update your meta tags relatively quickly. For most websites, you can improve your meta tags in minutes through your CMS or with simple plugins. For example, Rank Math has an entire section dedicated to “SEO Titles & Meta”: However: As I’ll discuss later, not all platforms make it easy to change your meta tags. Some (like Squarespace) don’t give you much control at all. Which Meta Tags Actually Matter for SEO? Not all meta tags are created equal when it comes to SEO impact. Some directly influence your rankings and visibility. Others play supporting roles or have become obsolete over the years (like the keywords meta tag). So to keep things simple (and prioritize your efforts and resources), let’s focus on the meta tags that actually matter for your website. Meta Tag Impact Summary Tag SEO Impact Supported By Google Title Tag High Yes Robots High Yes Canonical High Yes Hreflang High (for international sites) Yes Meta Description Low Yes Viewport Low Yes Charset Low Yes Now let’s break down each important tag in detail. Title Tag The title tag isn’t technically a meta tag (it’s an HTML element in its own right). But it’s one of the most important tags in your page’s header from an SEO perspective, so I’ll cover it here. <title>Backlinko: SEO, Content Marketing, & Link Building Strategies</title> Your title tag appears in three key places: Browser tabs Search engine results Social sharing (when you don’t specify an OG title — more on that soon) How to Optimize Your Title Tags Keep title tags under 60 characters (or about 600 pixels) to avoid truncation in search results Put your primary keyword near the beginning (but don’t keyword stuff) Use a unique title tag for every page on your site Make it clickworthy to boost CTRs (numbers can help here) Include the year if recency is key (but make sure it’s up to date) As an example, compare these two title tags. They both contain a number, which may help boost CTR (depending on the query). But the date in the TeamUpdraft title tag is from last year, making it seem outdated. Meanwhile, the WP Rocket title also tells me their list contains free and paid options. This helps cater to a wider audience with different budgets. It also adds something unique that could boost engagement by helping it stand out on the search engine results page (SERP). Robots Meta Tag The robots meta tag controls how search engines interact with your pages. It looks like this: <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"> The default value is “all” which you can think of as “index, follow” (even though Google’s documentation doesn’t list these as accepted values). You can still include “index, follow” without any negative impact, but it’s not necessary. If you don’t add a meta robots tag to your page (which Google’s John Mueller says is perfectly fine), Google assumes there are no restrictions. If you do want to restrict indexing/following of links, you can use: noindex: Tells Google not to show this page in search results nofollow: Tells Google not to follow the links on this page none: Equivalent to noindex, nofollow indexifembedded: This lets Google index the content of the page if it’s embedded elsewhere through the likes of iframes (only has an effect if there’s also a noindex rule) You can also use the robots meta tag to control how your site appears in search results via the snippet rules. These include: nosnippet: Tells Google not to show a text snippet or video preview in search results max-snippet: [number]: Tells Google to use a maximum number of characters as the text snippet in search results (a value of 0 shows no snippet, and -1 lets Google decide the snippet length) max-image-preview: [setting]: This tells Google the maximum size of the image preview for this page in search results (values include none, standard, and large) max-video-preview [number]: Tells Google to use a maximum number of seconds as a video snippet (a value of 0 means Google will at most show a static image, while -1 means there is no limit) notranslate: Tells Google to not offer a translation of this page in search results noimageindex: Tells Google not to index images on this page unavailable_after: [date/time]: Tells Google not to show the page in search results after the specific date/time If you don’t add any of the above rules, Google will just apply its defaults. In other words, if you don’t have any preferences, you don’t need to worry about these meta tags. How to Optimize Your Robots Meta Tag Most pages should use “all” or not specify any meta robots tags. This applies to any pages you want Google to index and follow the links on. But you may want to use “noindex” for: Thank you pages Login pages Duplicate content Private content You can even target specific search engines: <meta name="googlebot" content="noindex, nofollow"> Canonical Tag The canonical tag technically isn’t a meta tag (it goes within the <link> element). But it is something you add to your <head> section that the user won’t see. It helps prevent duplicate content issues by specifying the “primary” version of a page. <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.yourwebsite.com/primary-page/"> You can learn more about these in our full guide to using canonical tags. How to Optimize Your Canonical Tags Always use full URLs, including the https:// portion Ensure your canonical tags match your preferred URL versions (with or without www, trailing slashes, etc.) The primary version of the page should also have a canonical tag pointing to itself (we call this self-referencing) For pages with URL parameters, you typically want to canonicalize to the version without parameters Hreflang Tags For multi-language websites, hreflang tags help search engines show the right version to the right audience. They’re not meta tags by definition. But like canonical tags, they are important for SEO and your user won’t see them. They look like this: <link rel="alternate" hreflang="es" href="https://es.example.com/page.html"> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="it" href="https://it.example.com/page.html"> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://en.example.com/page.html"> How to Optimize Your Hreflang Tags If you don’t run a multilingual site, you don’t need to worry about these tags. But if you do, here’s how to optimize your hreflang tags: Be careful with the codes you use, ensuring you use the language tag followed by the country value (if needed), like en-us, not us-en Each language version should reference all other versions Each page should have an hreflang tag pointing to itself It’s easy to make mistakes here, so I recommend checking out our full guide to hreflang tags for more information. Meta Description The description meta tag looks like this: <meta name="description" content="Your compelling ~120-character description that includes your target keyword and encourages clicks."> While not a direct ranking factor, your meta description can impact click-through rates. But: You shouldn’t assign too much value to these, for two reasons: Not everyone reads the meta description, so influence over CTR is limited Google often chooses its own description to show, depending on the query (further limiting the impact) So while you can and (I cautiously say) “should” optimize your meta descriptions, there are likely more important things you can do if you’re limited on time or resources. With that out of the way, here are a few best practices: How to Optimize Your Meta Descriptions You can optimize your meta descriptions by: Aiming for 100-120 characters to avoid Google truncating your meta description on mobile devices Adding a call to action like “Learn how,” “Discover why,” or “Get your free guide” to encourage clicks (but don’t use clickbait) Making sure your description aligns with what users are actually looking for (the search intent) Writing a unique description for each page Here’s an example of an optimized meta description: It captures the main benefits of the product, making it clear to a searcher why it’s the right one for them (and why they should click). Viewport Meta Tag This meta tag ensures your site displays properly on mobile devices. It looks like this: <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> This simple tag helps improve your site’s mobile friendliness. While not a direct ranking factor itself as a tag, Google does prioritize sites that provide a great experience on all devices. So it’s a good idea to make sure you implement this one correctly. Further reading: Mobile SEO: The Definitive Guide How to Optimize Your Viewport Meta Tag Most content management systems (like WordPress) will set this tag for you. And you’re unlikely to want or need to change it. You can tweak values like the width and height, but for most cases, you won’t need to. Just make sure you have one, and ideally use the following values: width=device-width to match the user’s device width initial-scale=1 controls the default zoom level Charset Meta Tag The charset meta tag defines the character encoding for your page. It looks like this: <meta charset="UTF-8"> If you use the wrong character encoding or implement it incorrectly, you might see some character display issues in your browser: How to Optimize Your Charset Tag Like the viewport meta tag, you’re unlikely to want or need to make any changes to this. Your CMS will likely add this automatically for you. But if you’re adding it manually, Google recommends you stick with Unicode/UTF-8. Open Graph and Twitter Card Tags Open Graph is a separate type of meta tag that isn’t going to impact your SEO. But these tags can affect how your content appears when you or others share it on social media. Here’s what Open Graph meta tags look like: <meta property="og:title" content="Your Compelling Social Title"> <meta property="og:description" content="Your engaging social description"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://example.com/image.jpg"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://example.com/page"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> Here’s an example of a blog post with Open Graph meta tags: And here’s how that post looks when it’s shared on X/Twitter: How to Optimize Your Social Meta Tags Here are some tips to optimize your Open Graph meta tags: Keep titles and descriptions concise Your social titles can be different from your SEO titles, so optimize them for shares Use images with dimensions of 1200 x 630 pixels Always ensure your og:url matches your canonical URL Other Meta Tags Before I move on, it’s worth noting a few other meta tags that you may come across. Here are the main ones and what you can use them for: http-equiv: You might use this to refresh the page or for meta refresh redirects, but this is rarely the best method to use (you might also use it to define content security policies, but you’re unlikely to need to do this) robots: You can specify meta tags for certain search engine bots, but most of the time you won’t need to nopagereadaloud: Tells search engines not to read the page aloud with text-to-speech services google-site-verification: You may use this when verifying that you own a site for Google Search Console rating: Use this only for labeling adult content to signal that SafeSearch results should filter it Here are a few meta tags that Google doesn’t support (and so you probably shouldn’t use): keywords: A long time ago, you could use this to specify keywords to search engines, but it has no impact on rankings now (don’t use it) lang: Google doesn’t rely on meta tags to determine the language of a page next/prev rel attributes: Google doesn’t use these and they won’t affect indexing nositelinkssearchbox: Google no longer supports this, as the sitelinks search box no longer exists How to Add or Change Your Meta Tags How you add or make changes to your meta tags depends on how your site is set up. If you built your site from scratch or have a custom setup, speak with your developer about adding or changing your meta tags. If you’re doing it yourself, you can add or change them in the <head> section of your page’s code. If your site runs on a content management system (CMS), how much control you have over your meta tags is going to vary depending on the platform you use. WordPress Meta Tags WordPress takes care of a lot of meta tags for you. To verify this, I just added a fresh install of WordPress to a domain I own. I deleted all the default plugins my host added, and I only have the 2025 default WordPress theme on the site. Here are the meta tags it added: The platform will: Automatically choose the recommended charset value (UTF-8) Add the default meta viewport tag Add an image-preview meta tag Not add any special indexing meta tags (so the site is set to indexable by default — a good thing) Add a title tag to the page What it didn’t do: Set a meta description Apply a canonical tag Add hreflang tags (not a problem in this case) Add Open Graph tags Note that it might vary depending on whether you run a WordPress.com-hosted domain or are self-hosting and using the WordPress.org software. It might also depend on the theme you use. You can edit your theme files to adjust your meta tags. But it’s just as easy (or easier) to use plugins. You might even already use a plugin that can do a lot of this for you. For example, Yoast will take care of your page title tags and meta descriptions. It’ll also let you adjust your Open Graph tags: You can find out more about using this plugin to boost your SEO in our Yoast guide. As I mentioned earlier, Rank Math is another option that lets you control a lot of your site’s meta tags. These include site-level and page-level controls over Open Graph tags: Shopify Meta Tags You can edit your Shopify store’s main title and meta description for the homepage by going to the Preferences menu in the left-hand sidebar menu: You can also change your social sharing image here (for Open Graph). For other pages like products, access the product page and scroll down to “Search engine listing” and click “Edit”: Wix Meta Tags Wix lets you add meta tags through the “Advanced SEO” menu: Wix takes care of a lot of meta tags for you by default, including: Title tag (based on the page name) Meta description (it’s blank by default) Robots (all pages are indexable by default) Open Graph title and description (your current title tag and meta description) Canonical tag (will always use the page URL unless you change it) Squarespace Meta Tags Squarespace doesn’t give much control over your meta tags. In fact, you can only really change your title tag and meta description. Do this via the SEO settings in your post or page and editing the “SEO Title” and “SEO Description” fields: How to Find Issues with Your Meta Tags Having issues with your meta tags can drastically harm your site’s SEO. Let’s look at how you can find some of the most common problems. Using Semrush’s Site Audit Semrush offers one of the most comprehensive tools for finding meta tag issues with Site Audit. Just set up an audit for your site and let it run. Then, head to the “Issues” tab and search for “tag.” This will highlight issues related to your meta tags. Site Audit will flag issues like: Pages with missing/duplicate title tags Pages with missing/duplicate meta descriptions Title tags that are too long Pages with missing meta viewport width values Pages with missing canonical tags Note: A free Semrush account lets you audit up to 100 URLs. Or you can use this link to access a 14-day trial on a Semrush Pro subscription. The Detailed Chrome Extension You can use the Detailed Chrome extension for quick on-page meta tag checks. It’ll show you that page’s title tag, meta description, canonical tag, robots tag, and more. This makes it very handy for validating quick changes to specific pages. Manual Checks with Dev Tools You can also just check your page’s meta tags manually by right clicking and selecting “Inspect”: Then, search for “meta” to quickly identify your page’s meta tags: This isn’t all that scalable, but it’s handy for checking specific pages. Optimize Your Meta Tags as Part of Your Technical SEO Strategy Meta tags clearly play a role in your site’s overall SEO. But making changes to them usually won’t have a huge impact on performance unless you already have major issues. There are lots of other aspects of SEO and technical SEO in particular that can actually move the needle. To find out more about these changes and how to make them to boost your site’s performance, check out our guide to technical SEO. The post Meta Tags: What They Are & How to Use Them to Boost Your SEO appeared first on Backlinko. View the full article

Google Workspace has announced a series of new AI-powered updates designed to enhance productivity across its suite of tools, including Gemini, Gmail, Google Slides, and Google Chat. The updates, part of its April Workspace feature drop, focus on offering practical assistance through advanced AI integrations rather than hype, according to the company. Gemini App Enhancements In the Gemini app, Google introduced “Canvas,” an interactive space where users can create drafts of documents and collaborate with Gemini to refine them. Users can request feedback, update sections, or adjust tone and formatting with quick tools. Additionally, Canvas supports code generation and previewing, benefiting both novice and experienced developers. Work created within Canvas can be easily exported and shared via Google Docs. Another significant addition is “Audio Overviews,” a feature allowing users to generate podcast-style audio summaries of documents or Deep Research reports created with Gemini. Users can listen to these summaries on the go, making it easier to absorb information without reading lengthy reports. Google also noted that users can now access Gemini 2.5 Pro (experimental) and upload files directly from mobile devices for enhanced productivity. New Features in Gmail Gmail users will now benefit from “Contextual Smart Replies,” powered by Gemini. This feature generates detailed and relevant replies based on the context of email threads, streamlining the response process. Users can hover over suggested replies, preview them, and select or edit responses as needed. This feature is available for Workspace Business and Enterprise users. Additionally, Gmail has introduced a new “Add to Calendar” button that appears when Gemini detects event details in an email. With a simple tap, users can instantly create a Google Calendar event from their inbox. Updates to Google Slides Google Slides has introduced a consolidated design sidebar to simplify the process of creating visually compelling presentations. This sidebar offers quick access to new templates, pre-formatted building blocks such as agendas and quotes, an expanded stock photo and GIF library, and AI-generated images. By centralizing these tools, Google aims to boost creativity and save users time without leaving the Slides interface. New Features in Google Chat In Google Chat, the new “board tab” serves as a central hub for teams to organize critical information. Users can pin messages, files, and links for easy access, ensuring that important resources are readily available and not buried within chat threads. Intelligent file suggestions further streamline the organization of team assets. Furthermore, the new HubSpot app for Google Chat enables real-time lead, deal, and ticket updates from HubSpot’s Smart CRM platform directly into Chat spaces. This integration allows sales, support, and marketing teams to collaborate more efficiently and stay updated on customer interactions without leaving Google Chat. Looking Ahead Google states that these updates are aimed at empowering users to perform their best work by leveraging practical AI innovations. The company encourages users to stay tuned for additional features in future Workspace Drops, further enhancing collaboration and productivity with AI-driven tools. Image: Google This article, "Google Workspace Introduces New AI Features Across Gemini, Chat, Gmail, and Slides" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article